Setting clear ground rules and establishing routines promotes structure and stability for your kids. When your kids know what to expect, it is easier to get things done, enforce discipline, and promote healthy interactions within your family. Whenever possible, try
Navigating Single Parenting: Series Introduction
Single parenting is becoming more and more common, with 34% of children in the US living in a single parent household in 2017 (KIDS COUNT, 2019). Single parent families are unique and diverse; they may be headed by mothers, fathers,
Reach Out for Help
Sibling relationships are complex and layered, and sometimes they can be really challenging to navigate. If you find yourself struggling with how to best support your children in developing a healthy sibling relationship and are unsure of what your
Parentification
Parentification occurs when one child takes on a parenting role to take care of another sibling, or in some cases, a parent. This may look like making lunches or cooking dinner for the family, cleaning the home, paying the
One-on-one Time
A great way to support healthy sibling relationships is to spend individual time with each child! Finding the time to plan individual activities with each child can be challenging when you’re juggling a busy schedule; however, it can make
Encourage Sibling Bonding & Respect Boundaries
Encouraging sibling bonding time is also a great way to promote healthy interactions and foster a strong relationship between your kids. This ensures that, even when schedules get hectic and life feels chaotic, your kids can count on having time
Disagreeing Respectfully
If you’re a parent of siblings, you’re probably well acquainted with bickering and have had to intervene in your fair share of disagreements between your kids. As challenging and frustrating as it can be for parents, it’s completely normal for
Avoid Comparing & Embrace Differences
Part of fostering healthy sibling relationships means celebrating each child’s individuality and trying your best to refrain from comparing your children to one another. Sibling comparisons may look like saying things such as, “Your brother comes home from school and
A Positive & Nurturing Relationship
Building healthy sibling relationships starts early! As a parent, you can encourage a positive, nurturing relationship between siblings from an early age. When you teach your kids that they can count on one another for support and encouragement, they will
Promoting Healthy Sibling Relationships
Sibling relationships are often some of our longest relationships, and while they can be complex and at times challenging, they can also be a source of deep connection and happiness. Our first opportunities to practice social skills and learn how