Discussing Sibling Conflict

By age 4 or 5, it’s easier for children to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, and how their actions may impact someone else. To help with sibling conflicts, suggest to parents that they:
-Think of their goal as guiding children to eventually resolve conflicts themselves by seeing the other person’s perspective, NOT by being the referee.
-Discuss how the other sibling is feeling (“What would your sister say?”)
-Ask children how they would feel in similar circumstances (“How would you feel if that was you?”)
-Help make repair (“What can we do to make this right and move on together?”)