Questions

Sibling Conflict

Posted on 7/22/2017

Our 13-year-old son teases his eight year old sister to no end. She reacts dramatically to the teasing (he loves getting a rise out of her, so I'm sure her reaction is his reward). She'll scream...

8 yro hurting others using ticket system

Posted on 7/11/2017

Our 8 year old son has had some instances of badly hurting others. He's aggressively hurt kids at school twice and the school has intervened. In both instances, we have punished him at home as...

3 yo Hitting

Posted on 7/6/2017

My boys are 11 months apart just turned 3 and 2. The older boy has taken to hitting and kicking the younger one lately. At first it wasn't too bad and I tried not to make an issue of it. I would...

3yr old Fits and Trouble Playing with Brother

Posted on 6/27/2017

My 3 year old is very big and strong for his age. When I have him go to his room for either timeout for a fit or for naptime he physically fights me now. He used to simply whimper and cry but then...

What to Do About Squabbling Sisters?

Posted on 5/18/2017

My two girls, age 2 and 3 (21 mns apart), constantly fight when together (expect for 1-3 minutes at the beginning of play). My 3 yo is aggressive to her younger sister in the forms of hitting,...

Argumentative 10 Year Old

Posted on 5/11/2017

We have been attempting to correct our 10 year old son's attitude. He argues with EVERYTHING, is so disrespectful, and always has to have the last word. He is also rude to his sister. We have...

Brothers don't have to be friends

Posted on 4/26/2017

I have a 7 year old boy and a 4 year old boy. They complain/compare: 'he got more apple juice than me', 'how come he got to watch t.v while he was home sick and I had to go to school?' They...

8 and 5 yo siblings fight constantly

Posted on 4/10/2017

I have a 8yo girl and 5 yo boy that fight constantly. Usually involves a lot of yelling. And sometimes gets physical. I'm at a loss on how to properly handle this. Nothing I'm doing is working. Help!

Jekyll and Hyde almost 4 y/o boy

Posted on 4/7/2017

Please help. My son is 3 years old and will be 4 in three weeks. His behavior is getting out of hand. He doesn't behave like this anywhere else but home. He has three older sisters and he hits...

Squabbling Sisters

Posted on 4/4/2017

Hello. I have 9 and 11-YO daughters. I was so excited to have two girls and envisioned them being best friends growing up together. Not the case. They fight all the time and my 11-YO has become...

What to Do When Older Sister Is Mean to Younger Sister

Posted on 2/5/2017

Our older daughter continues to be a source of hurt to her younger sister. They are three years apart and both teens. They are both well liked in the community, praised by teachers, active in...

Sibling Conflict

Posted on 1/5/2017

In regards to siblings and tattling. Do you have any ideas other than the "if nobody is hurt no tattling" rule.

Sibling screaming!

Posted on 1/3/2017

4 year old daughter who can be very controlling and possessive and a just turned 2 year old son who screams now every time his sister approaches him. They are attached at the hip and look for...

8 yo, No Quick Fixes for Discipline Problems

Posted on 11/21/2016

Our 8 1/2 year old daughter has not changed any of her undesirable behaviors. These include being irresponsible with schoolwork, unkind to her sister, ruining her clothes/ most other items,...

Toddler Sibling Conflict

Posted on 11/2/2016

We have 3 boys - 3 years old, 2 years old, and 10 months old. Our second son has recently been hitting, biting, pushing and kicking his brothers (not other kids when we are out). He is also a very...

10 year old with low frustration

Posted on 10/20/2016

10 year old daughter (middle child) is bright, athletic, does well in school and no behavior problems at school. Can be delightful, but extremely mean to younger sister (states because she annoys...

Ten year old with multiple issues

Posted on 10/1/2016

Adopted Female child age 10; neglect and multiple traumas, sexual abuse. She is in complete safety for 4+ years now, yet she is Hypersensitive, intense, social issues, cannot get along with...

Preschool Sibling Relationships

Posted on 9/22/2016

how to improve sibling relationship with preschool children?

Sibling Relationships

Posted on 9/21/2016

John I am conducting a workshop about sibling relationships. We are in a Montessori environment and talking at the Primary age level of 2-6. An information about easing the new baby into the...

Kids Won't Stop Fighting!

Posted on 8/29/2016

My children will not stop fighting. These fights are typical sibling things, but it is making me crazy and I need some tips on how to work this out. Also, my girls fight over me and this is very...

Jealous 16-Month-Old

Posted on 8/3/2016

My husband and I have a jealous 16 month old. She is the 4th child. The oldest are (twins) 4.5 yrs and one who is 3.5 yrs. Whenever I am holding one of the other children she begins pulling at...

Equal Penalty for Sibling Conflict

Posted on 7/26/2016

We have been using the disturbing the peace system with good success. What do you suggest in the situation where one child is out of the house when his siblings get strikes? For example, Child A...

Helping Children Play

Posted on 7/20/2016

How do I help my children play? It seems that my children don't know how to play properly. When they are outside to play they have soccer balls, jump ropes, sand boxes, a play house and tree...

Toddler Causing Conflict

Posted on 6/28/2016

I have a 5 year old girl, a 4 year old girl, and a 2 year old boy. I need some wisdom on how to handle their conflicts. My 2 year old boy grabs toys from his older sisters. I usually come in...

From Chaos to Calm

Posted on 6/24/2016

We have 4 children: girl age 7, boy almost 5, and boy-girl twins age 3. I feel like I have no control over them. Examples…I have to repeat myself when I tell them to do stuff (pick up your toys,...

9 yo, 4 yo Sibling Conflict

Posted on 6/16/2016

I have 2 children (9 year old daughter, 4 year old son). I frequently find myself mediating sibling conflict despite the fact that I don't want to. I think the main reason is due to the vast...

Destroying toys

Posted on 6/8/2016

We have an almost 3.5 year old boy and an almost 2 year old girl. They are destructive! It is more the boy who instigates destructive behavior but they both play very rough with each other and...

Preschoolers Fighting

Posted on 4/9/2016

I have read your suggestion on posting rules about not disturbing the family peace when it comes to sibling rivalry. I have a 4.5 year old son and an almost 3 year old daughter. My son can be...

13 yo Boredom

Posted on 4/2/2016

We have a very bored 13 year old on our hands. It is now the school holidays and he is bored, bored,bored. It is not the boredom itself that we are worried about. It is the fact that he shows no...

6 yo and 3 yo No Family Peace

Posted on 3/20/2016

My daughters are 6 and 3. They think they need constant attention. If I am busy doing something besides talking to them or interacting with them, they are asking me to play, arguing with each...

Son Is Competitive With Sisters but Not Interested in Sports

Posted on 3/10/2016

Good morning, I have a son who is 7 years old. He is sandwiched in between a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old sister. He sees the girls doing better at things like school, riding a bike, sports, etc. (...

Sibling Arguing

Posted on 2/24/2016

My kids are 5 (girl) and 9(boy). She is precocious and bates him regularly. She is an extrovert sometimes to the extreme. He is quiet, generally calm, and keeps things inside always trying to...

Sibling Conflict

Posted on 2/23/2016

We are having problems with our son, 3 years old (38 months) and our daughter, 19 months, fighting. Our son can be very aggressive with her and has recently increased in physical aggression...

11 yo Misbehaving

Posted on 11/18/2015

11 year old, is oldest of 4 siblings and in 6th grade. Has multiple issues throughout school years and at home relating to lack of respect for authority and anger issues. In most cases,...

Toddler, Baby Squabbles

Posted on 11/17/2015

Dear John or other panel members, I have two wonderful, beautiful grandsons, ages 33 mo. and six months that I see about once a week. They are both happy children but lately Alex (the 33 mo...

Nip it...Now

Posted on 10/30/2015

Our five year old son is punching his parents when he's angry. He is the youngest of four boys, his three brothers are triplets. He also had continued to have a difficult time separating from mom...

Sibling Conflict

Posted on 10/16/2015

Hi, We have five home schooled children 8yo,7yo,5yo,4yo,1yo. The eldest is popular with all our children and the 7yo boy vies for her attention and playtime against the 5yo girl . The question...

5 yo, 3 yo Sibling Conflict

Posted on 10/13/2015

We have a five year old girl and three year old b/g twins (all three kids just turn their ages). Our five year old has had some jealousy and resentment issues with the twins in the past and its...

Share and Share Alike

Posted on 9/18/2015

1st question: What do you recommend in terms of a 1 year old and a 4 year old sharing toys? They can't effectively play together because of their ages. He grabs hers, and she grabs whatever he is...

Sibling Squabbles

Posted on 9/11/2015

Hello :-) My daughter aged 12 and son aged 9 are constantly arguing with each other. They can be really harsh in their words and sometimes get physical. I have just sent them both to bed...

Sibling Ruckus

Posted on 9/1/2015

Hi, I have an 18mth old who makes a horrible loud yell/scream each and every time one of his brothers upsets him; whether it be on purpose or just because they are holding something he wants. Is...

4 Year Old Regresses to Baby Behavior

Posted on 8/25/2015

4.5 year old had a period (6 months?) of dry nights and days. We have 7 children in the house, he is in the middle. When the older children went to summer camp for a month, he loved to take the...

3 year old Doesn't Want Baby Sister

Posted on 7/31/2015

My nephew is 3 years and 3 months old. He had a baby sister born last week. He is not accepting her at all. He does not acknowledge her except to tell his momma to put her back in her belly. I...

14 year old, 4 year old Need Family Peace

Posted on 7/16/2015

I am at my wits's end for how to stop the fighting between my 14 yr old stepdaughter and my almost 4 yr old daughter. My stepdaughter is with us every other week, and until recently things were...

3 year old Not Sharing

Posted on 7/9/2015

My son is three and I'm assuming like most-3 year-olds he's obsessed with everything that is his. He grabs everything and everything is "mine mine mine." I tried explaining to him that things are...

Nearly 9 Year Old Complainer

Posted on 6/10/2015

My son, (9 in Sept.), constantly feels (and expresses to us in different ways), that he feels slighted, or cheated out of things. He is constantly comparing himself to his brother (6), or sister...

Siblings Fighting Over Toy

Posted on 6/4/2015

Here is a common situation at my house. My 5 1/2 year old picks up a toy and suddenly the 3 year old decides he wants it. Cue the screaming. Then the older child realizes the leverage he has...

4 yo and Infant Sibling Conflict? No Indeed!

Posted on 5/26/2015

HI there, I have a question about sibling issues - a 4 year old girl and an 11 month old baby boy. She gets told off for being rough with her brother, pushing him and dragging his hand off the...

Siblings Sharing Room

Posted on 5/25/2015

We have a 6yo, 4yo, and 2yo sharing a bedroom. When one of the older children is sent to the room for misbehaving, whether it be for an hour or the entire day, should the other two be allowed in...

Meal Time Fighting

Posted on 5/21/2015

Our two oldest children, ages 6 and 4, bicker and fight constantly during meals. How's this as a variation on tickets to use at mealtimes: at the start of each meal each child has on his placemat...

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