Sibling Rivalry

[caitsmum]

Just a quick post to find out how you all cope with the fighting. My girls are nearly 8, 5 & 4. Sometimes they are best friends but other times the claws really come out. It is usually the oldest fighting with one of the younger ones.

How to you cope with it? I would really appreciate any stratagies or advise.

Therese

[Elfin]

It is really annoying. I am an only child so it has been an eye opener for me. I try as much as possible to let them sort things out. This works quite well as before they were always trying to get me involved in every single squabble. I will intervene if things turn ugly or if there is some sort of verbal or emotional abuse going on.

I also lavish the praise when they are good and playing nicely. Spend one on one time with each child and get a book called Siblings without Rivary. Good luck.

[CJJHRA]

My eldest will be 14 in April, he stirs all the kids something cruel! But then again at other times he has them wrapped around his little finger. When hes out, the others get along really well.

The 8 & almost 10 year olds play together and then the twins play together, and they dont often fight as they keep in thier own corner kind of thing.

The little girl gets in on the act too! OMG! can she fight. She name calls hits and kicks (but she has good teachers hey!)

I usually let the kids sort it out themselves, as fights dont usually last too long. I will stop the twins alot though picking on their sister, as everyone always has to get in the last hit, and it can go on forever!

[StormAngel]

Mine usually seem to sort themselves out on their own, but occasionally i do have to step in, with them being sent to their room to think about it!

With me it seems to be the middle two, Miss 10 & Miss 7, and Master 13 has been known to stir up trouble (only boy)

[caitsmum]

Oh it is nice to know that I am not the only one living with the fights. I guess it is all just part of the experience.

Alannah's mum: I can realate to the littlest one being so good a fighting. She seems to get away with a bit more too (much to my disgust).

Therese

[StormAngel]

Yep, little miss 18mths can fight pretty good here too! LOL! And she gets away with heaps too!

[kymmy]

as long as it is a fair fight, i let it go...

it is harder with a baby around
i can't really leave my youngest on the floor
the way my older two jump around
:smiliedance: :smiliedance:

[LA62]

OMG do mine fight, from the moment DS comes in from school till the moment they go to bed:banghead:

I must say that i tend to ignore it as much as possible and let them sort it out and go to another room, otherwise i would be joining in :laughing:

But then there can be times when they play, and enjoy each other.

My Mother said me and my brother used to be the same and she jokes that its my payback time!:rolleyes:

[Hokey Pokey]

Mine fight like cats and dogs!!
I don't know if it is a girl thing and the fact they are both Aquarians lol but boy when they fight they FIGHT!!
It drives me absolutely NUTS!!:banghead:

[kymmy]

Do you think it gets worse or better as they get older?

I know with my bro and myself we were really good friends
and still are but we don't agree on everything
i am 28 he is 26

[Hokey Pokey]

Getting worse!! :banghead: