Taming Sibling Squabbles

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Do your kids fight? Does it drive you crazy. Join us to learn some helpful tips for handling sibling rivalry and fighting. Our guest is Dr. Laura Markham, a clinical psychologist and author of several books, including Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids and Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why do siblings squabble?
• How is sibling rivalry and sibling fighting a good thing for our kids?
• How to teach sharing?
• What are the warning signs that a sibling fight has gone beyond a useful tool for developing those skills? When do we step in to stop sibling squabbles?
• What’s an effective way for parents to step into these sibling fights? 
• How to handle rivalry based on one child thinking you favor the other?
• What about verbal aggression, name-calling, etc? 
• A struggle common to kids impacted by trauma is a delay in emotional and social skill development. Identifying and managing internal discomfort can be challenging for our kids. Or all feelings are disproportionate to their situation (both bigger and smaller or shut down). 
• Can you speak to what helps kids develop these skills outside the moments of conflict?
• What practical strategies can you offer to help parents cultivate satisfying, loving relationships between siblings?
•  Would you offer a word about self-care for parents raising kids who fight all the time?

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