Life is simpler when there is only one child in the family because there is just one center of attention and one apple in every body’s eyes. But things get a little complicated as soon as a second child is born because of the possibility of sibling rivalry.

They say sibling rivalry exists when siblings tend to compete with each other for the love, affection, recognition and attention of one or both parents. But sibling rivalry is a normal part of growing up and some experts even say that it is a good learning experience for both the children and the parents. I remember when I was still a child, I use to fight a lot with my siblings. But as we mature and grow older, sibling rivalry starts to fade and you can’t even tell from our closeness now that we once were like cats and dogs.

But sibling rivalry is one of the most common child problems that parents should not ignore and must be dealt with especially if things get out of hand already that siblings are fighting about anything and everything almost everyday.

So how should parents manage sibling rivalry?

• The parents should understand first the root of the problem to properly address it. Children have different personalities and traits which can cause for the siblings to clash. Gender can also be a factor as boys and girls have different preferences. Siblings also don’t go along well because of their age difference. There are a lot of factors that can cause the competition and misunderstanding among siblings so it is better to understand those to find the best solution to avoid the rivalry.
• Parents should also try very hard to treat each of their kids equally. We know we always hear parents say that they don’t have any favorites as they both love each of their kids equally. But sometimes, unknowingly, parents can show favor over another child and so parents should really try hard in being consistent of showing equal attention and love to all their kids.
• Competition among siblings can also be minimized if parents will stop comparing their kids. Parents should inculcate in their kids that they are all unique individuals and that each of them have their own special characteristics.
• Parents should also try to spend some quality time with each child individually by doing activities that each child likes. The activity doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be a dinner in a discount restaurant or even a simple walk in the park. By doing this each child will have their own personal time and space with their parents so nobody will feel left out.
• Parents should also teach their children to respect each other’s personal belongings and boundaries. The kids should learn that it is not okay to take his siblings things without permission so each kid will have a feeling that they have something that they can call their own.
• As much as one-on-one quality time per kid is important, doing something together as a family like watching movies together or going to mall or just simply hanging out at home to chat is also important as it promotes family bonding, thus can help develop the closeness among siblings.

There is no precise formula on how to avoid sibling rivalry. But what is important is that parents should learn to address it and by following some of the tips mentioned, little by little, their efforts will be all worth it as their children will eventually start to get along well.

AbieL is an experienced writer and blogger who writes for Business Opportunities Expo and You Love Coupons. These are discount shopping sites where consumers can get eleven2 promotional discount and norton antivirus coupons rebates.