Parenting Stack Exchange
Parenting Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [siblings]

Siblings describe any two or more family members with a common parent or are adopted by and live under the guardianship of the same parent.

Siblings refer to either the brother(s) or sister(s) of a person. This relationship can be a biological relationship, i.e. a common parent, or it can be a relationship formed through the adoption of one child by a parent with existing biological children or other adopted children.

This is a common topic in parenting. When there are multiple children in a single household, parents often have to act as peer mediator or referee when an argument ensues between two or more siblings. Issues with siblings can stem from perceived parental preferences, acquisition of material objects (i.e. gifts), or age-related differences between siblings (i.e. regressive behavior of a toddler or pre-school age child after a new baby comes home).

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Is having a sibling better for a child?

We have several friends who have two or more children, while myself and my wife only have one. Often when we visit them, it seems that the conversation always turns to, "When are you having your second?", and when we suggest that we only want one,…
Craig
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Son chooses what my daughter chose then gets upset he doesn't get it

We have a nearly 5 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. Our son has gotten in the habit of, when we ask them both to choose something, waiting for his sister to choose then immediately choosing the same. For instance: Me: "Which plate do you…
Drew
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What is the least problematic age difference between siblings?

We have one young toddler daughter and are pondering when (and if) she should have a younger sibling -- and what age difference might work best for both of them. For many (most) parents, what works for them is a major factor, but I have gone to a…
Kilo
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What are some ways to get an older sibling to give a younger sibling a little space?

We have 2 daughters - a 4 year old and a 1 year old. Our 4 year old daughter will not leave our 1 year old daughter alone. It is nothing malicious or intentionally mean, but it feels like we should be protecting the younger one. I actually…
BrianH
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4 year old giving "bad advice" to his 16-month old sister

Our 4 year old son has gotten into the habit of giving his 16-month old sister "bad advice". Some examples: At dinner, she pushes her plate away. He'll start egging her on "push it off the table! Push it on the floor!" In the car, she often takes…
Drew
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Is it OK for my 16 year old son to watch my 10 year old daughter at home alone while I'm at work?

I don't always have an option for a babysitter. They are both out of school and my son is very mature for his age. Am I wrong for allowing them to stay home alone being that they're both under the age of 18? I do have video surveillance in my…
LOSTinNEWYORK
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How to discourage toddler from playing rough with infant sister?

We have a 2 year old and a 6 month old. We like to give the younger sister time on her tummy to learn how to crawl, but often while she is on the floor her older sister will come harass her. The most common thing the older one does that we don't…
Robert
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Is it better for siblings to meet at a young age?

My children are 3 and 18 months, their siblings from another father are 6, 7 and 8. They have never met each other. Is it better for them to meet now or to wait until they are teenagers or adults? My wife's ex is against any kind of contact between…
Ulkoma
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I don't feel accepted at home

I'm a 13-year-old guy and I have a 9-year-old sister. We've argued for as long as I can remember, we argue about 5 times per day. My mum and dad can't take it anymore. I try my hardest to be nice to my sister, but she just refuses to co-operate with…
Luca
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What are the best approaches to dealing with 3-year-old's copying of older sibling's illness symptoms?

It's probably a well known fact that younger kids tend to ape their older siblings. Generally it's possible to handle in variety of ways and isn't that big of a deal. One way where I'd like some input is the following situation: Older sibling say…
user3143
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Watching movies 7yr old and 5yr old

The two are practically inseparable and we have what seems like an unsolvable dilemma: we want to allow the 7yr old to watch, for example, Star Wars but feel it's not adequate for a 5yr old. How should we proceed?
chx
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Step sisters showering together?

so my 6yr step daughter just told me that she is now showering with her 17yr step sister when she is at her mothers house. She said nothing inappropriate has happend but is this really okay? A little back ground they have only been in 3ach others…
Megan ka
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My sister is talking to a guy way older than she is - should I let her?

I am 28 years old and my sister is 20 years old. She is talking to a guy who is 31 years old. Should I let her date the guy or should I stop her? From talking to him when she told me about him I got angry cause I couldn't understand why she was…
Vincent Gray
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