What role does sibling rivalry play?
It can help children learn: • How to handle disagreements • To talk things out instead of fighting • Ways to handle anger and frustration • How others feel When is sibling rivalry most likely to occur? • Sibling rivalry can be first noticed as jealousy e.g., when a new baby arrives or as the baby moves through a new stage. • When there is an increase of stress in the family • When any one of the siblings is bored, hungry, tired, or sick • When one of the siblings is passionate, or easily frustrated • When there is a difference in skill development between siblings- • Physical e.g., one can ride a bike, while the other is trying • Speech e.g., is still learning to talk • Emotional e.g., is able to share, while the other is still learning What can jealousy and sibling rivalry look like? You may notice your children • Having more difficulty following the rules as well as less cooperation • Showing signs of regression such as going back to sucking his thumb, wetting pants, or wanting to dr
