Siblings can be each other’s best friend— or worst enemy. Here are our best tips for guiding them through and away from sibling rivalry
When it comes to fights, the line ,“I will not let you hurt” is more powerful than, “We don’t hurt.”
—T.P.
Staten Island
Whatever the fight is, it probably started long, long ago (like, at birth) so there’s usually no way to assess what really happened. I don’t try to pin down who started it, but deal with the situation at hand (what should we do now?).
—Z.K.
Israel
When I decide how to respond to an argument, I consider this: The younger child is not always the victim (and might, in fact, trigger the fight because he knows he won’t get into trouble!). Kids are still kids who need love and support, whether they’re five or 15, and age doesn’t turn a child into a tzaddik who can handle everything.
—T.W.
Jerusalem
Humor helps! I once got so frustrated at the comparisons that I started a whole spiel about how everyone needs glasses, since X has glasses, or eye infection medicine, since Z just got that… all the kids were giggling at the absurdity.
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