Do your children have good sibling relationships? Or do they fight rather than enjoy each other’s company? Parents can play a key role in developing good sibling relationships and reducing rivalry and conflict between siblings.

By encouraging activities that promote teamwork, setting children up for fun together, and providing children with tools for constructive and respectful conflict resolution, parents can help siblings develop good relationships that will last them for the rest of their lives. Research has shown that sibling relationships often play an important role in how we interact in other relationships with friends, romantic partners, and others later in life.

No matter how different your children are, family ties are important. As a parent, there are a few things you can do to strengthen bonds between your children that will hopefully last a lifetime. First of all, try not to say things like, “Why can’t you listen as well as your brother?” or “Your sister is not answering me.” Comparing your children to each other is a surefire way to ignite the fire of sibling rivalry and generate resentment.