The 2010 United States Census indicated that the number of people living under one roof has started to grow. Adult children who had previously moved out of their parents’ homes are moving back just to make ends meet. This cohabitation could lead to some conflicts especially among siblings and although sibling rivalry is a common occurrence there are ways to keep it in check.
What is sibling rivalry? Some siblings grow up being the best of friends while others seemingly never stop fighting. In many cases brothers and sisters fight out of jealousy or to compete for a parents attention. According to KidsHealth.org, here are some reasons a sibling rivalry may develop.
*Personalities: Every child has his or her own personality and temperament. Often, these do not match up with siblings. If one child is easygoing and adventurous and the other child is shy and clingy, this can cause a rift in their ability to play well together.
*Age: Age can factor in to how siblings get along. An older child has different interests than a younger child and developmental issues can widen the gap. They may not be able to share the same toys and having fun together on an intellectual level may be difficult. This can cause bickering and real fights when the younger sibling wants to emulate the older one.
*Special Needs: A child may have a developmental delay or an illness that requires more attention from Mom and Dad. Other siblings could become jealous and begin to demand equal time and attention from their parents and may even begin to resent their sibling.
*Learning By Example: Children often take their cues from Mom and Dad. If parents cannot resolve their own differences amicably and tend to blow things out of proportion, siblings may feel that this is the right way to handle problems as well.
The Tender Nest will address “How To Stop The Fighting” in Part II of this discussion to be published next week.
