If your child is having difficulty accepting their new sibling, it’s essential to help her adjust. This might involve setting boundaries and rules as well as giving each sibling individual attention.
She may need assurances that loving a new baby doesn’t diminish your love for her.
Active Listening
Even though your children may not realize it, the sibling relationships they foster now could have lasting repercussions in later life. McHale and colleagues reported in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review that warming and supportive interactions between siblings were associated with academic engagement, social competency and intimate relationships during adolescence and young adulthood – among many other positive results.
Conflict is unavoidable, so provide your kids with tools for resolving it effectively. For instance, teach them active listening; actively listening means listening with the intent to understand rather than judge and then clarifying its main points or intent.
Avoid discussing topics that could spark disagreement, like politics or religion and revisiting painful childhood memories. Avoid making comparisons between siblings, as this only serves to fuel feelings of jealousy; instead, reassure the older child of your pride for becoming their big brother or sister.
Remain Calm
While sibling rivalry is inevitable, it’s essential to remain calm. This presents an invaluable opportunity to teach your children conflict resolution strategies; modeling such behaviors will teach them how to adapt in future situations.
Prior to an argument escalating further, identify its root cause. For instance, if your children are bickering over who gets to choose what TV show or when they can play, setting ground rules beforehand could reduce stress-inducing arguments about small things and prevent future disagreements.
Encourage your children to use problem solving skills when they find themselves in difficulty, and praise their efforts. This will teach empathy as it shows that everyone has different viewpoints – even two people can disagree while still remaining respectful. Also emphasize how each child is special to you by dedicating one-on-one time with them each and participating in activities they love together.
Don’t Bring Up Topics You Don’t Agree On
Sibling relationships often get a bad rap, but they are essential for child development. Siblings are often among their closest friends and can have a profound effect on a child’s behavior, adjustment to life in general and bond with parents.
Parents need to remember that older children may feel jealousy or upset upon the arrival of a new baby, but by providing open and non-judgmental dialogue between themselves and their offspring it should eventually subside over time. Also important is emphasizing the fact that no new child replaces or diminishes them or reduces their love.
As part of their care for their baby, children need to understand that there will be tasks they must perform for it such as changing diapers and feedings. Discussing these concerns openly can help children adjust to this new rule more readily and accept it more readily. Also try setting aside one night each week just for your kids (no babysitter required!) where you create fun family traditions like movie night or sibling scavenger hunt.
Encourage Positive Interactions
Sibling relationships can have a lasting impact on a person’s behavior and emotions throughout his or her lifetime, so parents must do everything possible to foster healthy interactions between their children. While this process may take some time to bear fruit, even when conflict and jealousy arises it’s vital that children learn healthy coping mechanisms which will prevent long-term damage.
If your older child starts gossiping about her younger sibling, gently remind him or her not to discuss family members in public. Discussing these details may create tension within relationships and cause individuals to feel left out.
Give your older child some responsibility in caring for the new baby, such as feeding or diapering them, as this will encourage him or her to nurture and bond with the infant. Furthermore, having them help decorate the nursery or buy baby clothing makes him or her feel involved with this important process.https://www.youtube.com/embed/9wHm0tF5gnk