Kids have a natural inclination to set themselves apart, including from their siblings. Why? They’re feeling jealous of the praise. Your 3-year-old painted a beautiful picture at daycare and you praised them for it… and now their older sibling is threatening to rip it up. Ever watched a toddler lay the smack down on their poor, unsuspecting baby sibling? There are some developmental stages when sibling rivalry is worse, like when both kids are under 4 or there are especially large or small age gaps between siblings. Moving into a new home? Expecting a new baby? Getting a divorce? These events are stressful for parents and kids alike, and many kids take their frustrations and anxieties out on the nearest target (i.e., their little sister). The same thing happens between siblings, and because you’re dealing with developmentally immature little people, those irritations can be compounded by a few other factors: Tight-knit family bonds are a good thing, but they can also breed a perfectly normal amount of irritation with one another. Let’s be honest: Sometimes you feel like picking a fight with your spouse or partner, right? Of course you do! You live with them 24/7.
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