CREATIVELY CALMING SIBLING RIVALRIES
things that can be smelled, and one thing that can be tasted.
Changing the field of vision, ie. looking out of a window, helps to reset the brain and counting from five to one helps to calm the heightened energy from the row, while engaging each of their senses to take them out of their heads and into their bodies. Plus, you’re holding their hands all this time and skin-to-skin touch is very soothing.
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THESE are challenging times for all of us, including children, so behavioural outbursts and sibling tensions are to be anticipated.
The situation may explain certain behaviour, but that doesn’t mean it should automatically excuse it, so ensure you use more creative discipline to teach behaviour you want to see, rather than just punishing behaviour you don’t want.
Aim for connection over correction by separating warring siblings and having them each make a card for the other including three things they like about the other. Then they must exchange the cards and read aloud what nice things they’ve said about each other. This helps refocus them on what they like about each other rather than what they don’t like, and this shift fuels (re)connection.
If they complete this quickly, that’s the consequence over and done with, but if they protest that they like nothing about their sibling, they must sit for however long it takes to complete the task. You assigned the consequence, but how long it goes on for is within their control.
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