Sibling rivalry the basics

Sibling rivalry usually rears its ugly head for the first time at the exact moment you need calm and harmony in the house – when you bring your new baby home. While life with your toddler can be challenging already, introducing a new brother or sister into the mix can tip the balance. The arrival of a new sibling can, understandably, make your toddler feel threatened and jealous – after all, up until this point in his life, he’s been the sole focus of your attention. And now he has to share you – and we all know how much toddlers like to share!

No matter what the age, there will always be a certain amount of conflict between children in families – it’s completely normal (even if it does seem to be never-ending!) as it’s one of the ways that they learn the skills that will enable them to get on with other people.

Your childrens’ sex, age, temperament and personality will have an impact on the level of sibling rivalry you experience at home. Same-sex and similarly aged siblings are often each other’s fiercest rivals, as are siblings who are naturally competitive.

Try to resist constantly jumping in to referee between siblings – unless it’s getting physical – because over time, they’ll develop different problem-solving strategies that will effectively sort most things out between them.

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This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot.