"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time." -- Clara Ortega
Fostering a Positive Sibling Relationship
"Mediating conflict between my kids is, I admit, one of the most difficult parts of parenting for me at this stage in my journey as a mother. Since my boys are only 5 and (almost) 3 years old, I still need to be there much of the time to guide them through challenges but I also want to give them the chance to work things out on their own whenever possible. [...] One area I have been trying to focus on lately is fostering love between the boys, so that they really start to appreciate the special relationship they have. Having a sibling is, after all, such a wonderful gift… though it is easy to take for granted when you only concentrate on the things that might annoy you about your brother or sister. I hope that as I encourage positive sibling relationships, the kids will have a greater sense of unity between them so that working through challenges becomes a better experience for all of us. Little by little, I know a loving relationship will assist in this area." The following blog post from Moments a Day shares five ways to foster positive interactions between siblings. [ read more ]
Reading Corner
Title: Siblings: You're Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together
By: James J. Crist Ph.D. Ages: 8-13 years
"Brothers and sisters: they can make great friends, and it's nice to have someone who'll love you no matter what. But kids know siblings can be a real drag, too. Full-color illustrations and humorous, kidfriendly text teach kids how to cope with problems of fairness, jealousy, conflict, tattling, privacy, and other things that can make having siblings so difficult. Kids learn how to cope with a new baby in the home and how to handle special situations such as siblings with special needs, step-siblings, and adopted siblings. Unlike most other books on the topic, it doesn’t dwell on sibling rivalry; it focuses on building positive relationships. After all, siblings can grow up to be the best of friends." -- Publisher
By: James J. Crist Ph.D. Ages: 8-13 years
"Brothers and sisters: they can make great friends, and it's nice to have someone who'll love you no matter what. But kids know siblings can be a real drag, too. Full-color illustrations and humorous, kidfriendly text teach kids how to cope with problems of fairness, jealousy, conflict, tattling, privacy, and other things that can make having siblings so difficult. Kids learn how to cope with a new baby in the home and how to handle special situations such as siblings with special needs, step-siblings, and adopted siblings. Unlike most other books on the topic, it doesn’t dwell on sibling rivalry; it focuses on building positive relationships. After all, siblings can grow up to be the best of friends." -- Publisher
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be the Change
Take some time to go through old photos with your kids from when they were both very young, sharing stories of the wonderful ways they kept each other happy. Reminding them of beautiful positive moments they shared in the past, just might encourage them to appreciate their special relationship.
