How to Handle Sibling Rivalry with Conscious Parenting
Fights between siblings are a big (and tiring) part of family life. It can be a fight over a toy. It can be a loud yelling match. A lot of parents don’t know when to get in, how to be fair, or how to stop it from getting worse. But here is what I see all the time as a Child Development Specialist These fights don’t mean your children don’t love each other. It shows they’re figuring out how to handle sibling strong emotions with those closest to them, and with the tools of conscious parenting, you can help them develop empathy, speak kindly, and strengthen their bond instead of fighting. Let’s look at how to change these fights into chances for Holistic Child Development through mindful parenting. 1. Don’t Rush to Judge — Show You See Their Feelings First The first thing we want to do as parents is be the judge: “Who did it first?” “Why did you hit him?” But blaming just makes things worse. It can make one child feel unheard. Respond to both with empathy and patience, use Nonviolent Communication to show you see how they feel. Don’t excuse bad and unpleasant behaviour. Try this: “I can see you are both very angry right now. Let’s take a slow breath. Then we can find out what each of you needs.” This small change helps kids feel safe with their feelings. It shows them Emotional Regulation. This is a key part of Holistic Child Development. 2. Use Family Meetings to Build a Close Feel Most of us only talk about our feelings when there’s already a problem, but you can express your feelings each week in the Family Meeting. These planned talks are a great way to use Active Listening Parenting. They give each child a say in the family. You can add easy toddler activities like drawing their feelings or acting out solutions through play. When kids know they can show how they feel in a good way, the bad feelings towards each other will go down over time. Studies say sibling who feel seen and heard at home are kinder to their brothers or sisters. They can learn to resolve disagreements on their own. 3. Teach How to Work Together, Not Just “Share” True sharing develops with maturity; it can’t be forced. Do not just think about what is fair right now. Think about how to make them understand the importance of cooperation. Use Positive discipline strategies for toddlers to show them the way. For example: “Let’s use a timer to take turns with the toy. Then we can talk about how it felt to wait and then to play.” Also, use mindful parenting. See if your feelings about their fights come from your past or stress. When you are calm, your kids learn to be calm in a fight, too. Conclusion: Conscious Co-Parenting for Strong Sibling Ties Fights between sibling aren’t something to fear; they’re part of growing. They are a thing to guide. When we use conscious co-parenting, we stop trying to make kids act a certain way. We try to see why they act that way. We are the conscious parents our kids need. This helps them not just get through the fights, but also do well with their big feelings. Tip: Try a “special time jar.” Let each child pick one thing to do with you each week. This makes their tie to you strong. It cuts down on the fight for your time. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, and YouTube for more ideas and help. For new things, click here to see our recent press releases.Are you ready to learn more about how to use conscious parenting techniques at home? Look at our talks for help, our class plans, and some of the Best Parenting Books on the topic at Vedangi Brahmbhatt’s website.