How to End Sibling Fights and Bring Peace Back to Your Home

It may seem as though there’s simply nothing a parent can do. 

But as Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish explain in their book Siblings Without Rivalry, parents can help shape sibling relationships for the better, even in the most dire situations. 

In this post, I’ll outline some of the key takeaways from their book. But I still highly recommend reading the whole book (it’s a quick read). There’s simply a lot of valuable knowledge shared that can’t be covered in a single post. 

Click on the image below to be taken to Siblings Without Rivalry on Amazon.

First, consider your influence over sibling relationships

One key theme in the book Siblings Without Rivalry is that parents actually play a large role in how children perceive each other and whether or not they get along.

While it may appear that our children simply don’t like each other or were born to fight, there are a few things parents unknowingly do that creates tension in their childrens’ relationship.

Here’s what parents need to avoid:

Comparing siblings either favorably or unfavorably

One common thing parents do is compare their children in either favorable or unfavorable ways.

For example, a parent may say that one child is better than the other at cleaning his room, or is more studious or more creative. 

While sharing a positive comparison with a child may seem harmless, especially if you praise the other child in other ways, it can create an environment where the child receiving the praise now has vested interest in making sure the other child doesn’t take his or her prized spot. Meanwhile, the child not receiving the praise in that moment may become jealous of the one who is. 

Likewise, negative comparisons, or telling a failing child they aren’t doing as good a job as their sibling, can damage the downtrodden child’s self-esteem and make them view their sibling as the cause. 

Claiming equal treatment of siblings

It’s natural for kids to wonder if they’re more loved or favored than their siblings. And so, they’re often on the lookout for ways in which their sibling is receiving better treatment than they are. 

This is a tricky situation for parents because it’s very difficult to treat children completely equally at all times and in every situation. At any given moment, it may be true that one child is getting more attention or resources than the other(s). 

When this happens, kids often know it. And it makes insistence by parents that they’re giving each of their kids equal treatment ring hollow. Further, it can inflame kids’s jealousy and cause them to see their sibling as a rival to their parent’s affection and attention. 

To get out of this quagmire and diffuse rivalry, parents can instead focus on each child’s individual needs. 

For example, if a child complains about a sibling receiving more pancakes than she did, avoid arguing the truth behind that statement. Instead, focus on the underlying issue expressed – that the child is still hungry. 

And if a child asks if you love them as much as their siblings, avoid declaring equality. Instead, express appreciation for the unique qualities each child possesses. 

Casting each child into a role

It’s easy to think of our children as having different roles. For example, one child is the musician while the other is the athlete, or one child is opinionated while the other is a follower, or one is the student while the other is popular socially. 

But casting our kids into different roles in our minds – and especially communicating these perceptions – creates an environment where children begin to lock themselves into this identity. 

Instead of labeling, parents can help support each child to be what they want to be. The first step in this process is for the parent to have faith that change is possible. Our own mindset of our child can have an impact on how they view themselves.

For example, if a parent considers one child to be the family’s talented musician it can limit the other child’s interests or ability just because their sibling shows such promise. The seemingly untalented child needs parents’ support to realize their own potential. Otherwise, the child not labelled as talented may feel resentment towards the talented one. 

Next, here’s what to do when fights break out

One valuable part of Siblings Without Rivalry is when the authors outline step-by-step how parents should respond when confronted with a sibling fight.

Even if you do your best to influence sibling relationships positively, fights are still bound to happen. But rather than just reacting when they do, take a step back, a deep breath, and act on the following advice. Not only can your actions make a huge difference in resolving the conflict in the moment, but you’ll also be decreasing the chance others one will arise in the future. 

The best part of this formula is that it not only reduces tension immediately, but can also reduce the possibility that similar arguments will escalate in the future. That’s because this process also shows kids themselves the most effective ways to resolve conflicts.

The steps are: 

1. Start by acknowledging each child’s anger towards each other. 
2. Listen to each sibling’s side with respect.
3. Show appreciation for the difficulty of the problem.
4. Tell your kids you have faith that they can work this out on their own.
5. Leave the room.

These steps allow kids to feel heard but take you, the parent, out of the equation of solving the problem. 

(Note that within Siblings Without Rivalry the authors also explain two other formulas they use for very difficult conflicts and potentially dangerous situations.)

Acknowledging kids’ feelings goes a long way

The first item on the list deserves special attention, partly because it can be counter-intuitive. 

A child’s complicated emotions can come out as hateful, mean, or even downright disturbing attacks on a sibling they feel in competition with. In those situations, any parent’s natural instinct might be to dismiss those negative feelings or to criticize the child for acting out, in an attempt to shut down the negativity.

But an important way to ease the tension and work to prevent future fights among siblings, is to acknowledge the negative feelings each child is feeling and expressing.

This may seem counterintuitive. Shouldn’t the child expressing the bad behavior know and understand what they did wrong? 

Yes. But not right away. 

It’s helpful to first consider the motive behind the bad behavior. For most children, acting out, especially towards their sibling, is an effort to try to be heard and understood. 

So acknowledging this child’s feelings (though not condoning the associated bad behavior) lets the child feel heard. This can immediately calm a situation, making it easier to begin working towards a resolution. 

Once those strong feelings are acknowledged, the next step is to point out what was wrong about the behavior. For example, a parent could say:

• “Hitting is never an acceptable way to express emotions.”
• “Calling your sister names is insulting and not an effective way to get her to change her mind.”
• “Yelling at someone to get your point across will never help them hear you more.”

The last step may be the most important

This last part of the formula is important, because if a parent gets too involved, he or she will inevitably be perceived as choosing a side – which could escalate feelings of rivalry further. 

This is also why walking out of the room is important. That way neither child feels they need to put on a show for their parent to prove they’re right.

Over time, as your children become more familiar with this conflict resolution process and see that you have faith in them to work things out on their own, heightened conflicts should diminish. 

Ending sibling fights also teaches life skills

Having children who fight can be aggravating, not to mention depressing and sometimes scary, if the relationship gets out of control.

We parents naturally just want the fighting to stop. To have peace in our homes. And ideally, to have our children enjoy each other’s company.

The advice and formulas shared in the book Siblings Without Rivalry can accomplish this with dedication and practice.

But even better, these strategies ultimately encourage problem solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills in kids.

This means that by implementing these strategies, we’ll (eventually) not only have more peaceful homes, but our kids will also be better equipped to handle conflict in any relationship – throughout their lives. 

Are you wondering when your child can begin doing certain tasks and chores on their own? Click here to sign up for my weekly emails and you’ll receive my Age-Appropriate Guide to Kids’ Independence as a free gift.

See also:

Get Your Kids to Listen to You + Strengthen Your Bond With Them at the Same Time

The Best Parenting Books to Raise Resilient, Successful, and Self-Sufficient Kids

Why Your Misbehaving Child Won’t Stop and What to Do About It

The Difference Between Punishment and Discipline and Why it Matters