Parents should know the battles are inevitable and must prepare their kids to defuse potentially ugly situations. And there will be times when parents must come to a child's defense and say, "We are family, and we will not say anything that doesn't build up one another. We will respect each other."
There are basically four types of sibling conflict and that each is driven by an underlying feeling ` because all relationship fights are generally about feelings, and not so much about the presenting issues.
Here are the reasons kids fight, and what the child`s underlying feelings are`
Boredom
What better way for your child to have some fun when he`s bored than to bug someone he knows is going to give him a great reaction`
Parental attention
Your child is feeling left out, unloved, or un-noticed, and is silently screaming, `Notice me, whether negatively or positively, just notice me!`
Issues
Your child is angry because he perceives that he`s being victimized, or has feelings of frustration or injustice.
Accumulated resentment
This type of fighting usually occurs when the other three types of fights are resolved by unhelpful parenting strategies. When the parent steps in and tries to solve the children`s problems, or punishes sibling fighting, the child will harbor resentment toward the parent and other sibling. The resentments are acted out when children relentlessly pick on their siblings and constantly look for ways to bug them discretely.
Use these tips for encouraging kindness in the home:
- Teach mutual respect. Do not allow your children to insult one another. Words are extremely powerful, and snide comments can damage deeply. Experts say every negative comment needs at least five positive remarks to even out. Teach your children to be kind and to appreciate each other.
- Do not play favorites. Remember that all children are created equal, but not all children are the same. Recognize and praise each child's individual skills, strengths and accomplishments without implying that one child is somehow better.
- Teach conflict-management. Do not deny your child's feelings, but help him learn to express emotions in an appropriate way. If you see your child acting jealously, encourage him identify the emotion by saying, "I understand that you feel bad because`" or "I know you hurt because.`" Helping your children figure out the causes of their actions will help them learn how to deal with problems in the future.
- Do not ignore good behavior. To attention-starved kids, negative attention is simply attention. Notice your children playing nicely together and reward them with praise. Be sure each child receives adequate parental interest and quality time.
- Show appreciation for who your child is, not what he does. When a child feels valuable merely for his performance, he will feel the need to prove his worth. Instead, praise your child for his God-given traits such as compassion or a tender heart. By fostering their self-esteem, children can learn to respect themselves and others.
Most parents realize, children imitate what they see, so look at the example you set. Do you compete with your siblings` Or do you consistently show kindness to your brothers and sisters` By checking your actions, you can be better prepared to show your children how to emerge the best of friends following the inevitability of a little sibling conflict.