Sibling Rivalry Solutions for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

One moment your kids are the very best of friends. The next moment they are yelling and screaming at each other so loudly that you're sure someone will call the police. There's no guarantee that your children will get along, especially all the time, but there are things you can do to foster good relationships between your children. After all, they're kind of stuck with each other. Preschoolers and kindergartners don't consider age as they compare themselves with their siblings. An older sibling may feel neglected when a new baby brother or sister gets all the attention. A younger child may feel left out if his older sibling has more privileges. Conflict between kids is normal, but it's up to parents to help kids manage sibling relationships.

Most siblings enjoy bonds that supply a lifetime of support and caring. But, when they're preschool and/or kindergarten age, the relationships between siblings can seem more like a war. Some studies have shown that early sibling relationships have a great deal to do with how we interact with others as adults. For this reason, and many more, it's important to foster healthy sibling relationships.

Brothers and sisters often waver between best friends and worst enemies. It's normal and natural for siblings to fight, and there are many reasons why they do so. Sibling rivalry can arise as a result of temperament, need, jealousy, and more. What follows is a deeper explanation of sibling rivalry and how you can manage conflicts between siblings.

Parents know the drill--Susie is crying because Alyssa is prettier, or has better hair, or gets to do everything that is fun while Susie has to sit at home. Most parents chalk this up to sibling rivalry, but the truth is that some siblings can become very jealous of one another. For young children, in preschool or kindergarten, sibling jealousy is a very strong emotion that can lead to temper tantrums and other forms of bad behavior.