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Children quarrel over the smallest things. But sometimes, those quarrels can feel as though they are getting out of hand. So, what is a parent to do when the quarrels turn into physical fighting? Does the parent sit back and let the kids work it out themselves? Or does the parent step in? And if the parent steps in, what action should be taken?
Just like with adults, kids can become tired of being around the same person and need a break. However, breaks are not always easy when you live, even room, with the person you need a break from. And sometimes, kids are fighting with each other, for the attention of the parent.
So what can a parent do? The best thing a parent can do is respect their children enough to ask what the real problem is. If the children cannot come up with an answer, ask them to separate for the rest of the day. They can watch television in two separate rooms, they can read books in two separate rooms, or they can even sleep in two separate rooms. The next day, sit them back down and see if they have had time to cool off and find the underlying reason to their fighting.
Keep in mind, that kids will fight with each other, it’s when it becomes a daily habit that the parent needs to step in.
Another thing to remember is that yelling never did you any good as a child, and it is not doing your child any good, either. When a parent yells, the child knows he or she has won. The child has succeeded in driving the parent mad; and therefore, the parent is going to lash out at the other sibling, just to make some peace in the house.
When you feel as though you are going to explode, calmly take away the item that is causing the fight, send the kids in two separate rooms, and give yourself a time out. When you have calmed down, invite the kids back in the room and ask for their idea of a solution. If they cannot agree on a solution, take the object away for a few weeks.
In essence, the best way to handle sibling rivalry is by keeping a cool head and looking for the underlying issue.
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