Sibling Rivalry

April 5, 2011

   Though as parents we always hope that peace and harmony will be a constant in our homes, sibling rivalry is a normal aspect of childhood.  Children become possessive of their toys and their time with their parents and friends.  There are ways however to lesson the effects of sibling rivalry in your home. 

     The first step is to prepare your child/children before the new baby arrives:

     1.   Take your child/children on shopping trips for the new baby and let them pick out a present they each want to give to the new baby.  Buy something for your child/children as well.  (This doesn’t need to be huge but this lets your child know that you are still including them.) 

     2.   Talk about the new baby. 

     3.   Let your child practice taking care of a baby doll.  Demonstrate with your young child/children how to gently care for it.  From time to time, interrupt an activity to go and “take care of” the baby doll so that your child begins to see & understand that regular activities may need to be interrupted in order to care for the new arrival.  

     4.   When you come home with the baby, make sure that mom spends those first moments with the child who is at home and gives them lots of hugs and attention.

     5.   With supervision, let the other child/children help with the new baby.  This will help promote sibling affection and lessen rivalry.

     6.   Continue to make time to have one-on-one moments with the older child/children.

“New Baby” books to check out at the library:

Brand New Baby Blues by Kathi Appelt, Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

There’s Going to Be a Baby by John Burningham, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Mail Harry to the Moon by Robie H. Harris, Illustrated by Michael Emberley

Big Sister Now: A Story About Me and Our New Baby by Annette Sheldon, Illustrated by Karen Maizel

Big Brother Now: A Story About Me and Our New Baby  by Annette Sheldon, Illustrated by Karen Maizel

Filed under: Books, New Baby, Sibling Rivalry