Brothers at War

This is normal in siblings. I have a 5 year old boy and a 17 month old boy who fight over things. They mainly do it when we are in the store, but it happens. All you can do is talk to them. Tell them they will be grounded if they don't stop. Try seperating them. Also try and reason with the older one, because honestly he should know better. Your older child is 11 mine is 5 and I tell him this. He stops for awhile anyways. Yours will be easier to talk to though. He may be starting to feel like he is a teenager and he doesn't want his little brother hanging all over him. Did this just start or has it been going on for awhile? Seperating the boys for awhile is your best bet. I wish you luck.

Hi M., Set-up rules and stick to them. Make a chart who takes a shower 1st on what day etc. Sit your children down and let them know this is not how you would like things to be in your house but until they can get along and make simple choices and get along that you will make the choices for them. Also set-up a chart for the punishment to fit the crime. Same punishment everytime for the same offense. No TV that night, No phone calls, no visitors, no play station or computer or whatever. Stick to it and watch what a difference 6 weeks makes. It will work if you are willing to try it. Good Luck B.

HI there, I have a 9 and 12 year old and I'm right there with ya! Partly, I think it is age. BUT! I also think they want your attention and they get it by acting up. Start recognizing their good behavior, you know,.. like when they get along. We also sit down together for dinner and do "little things" daily as a family. I give each of my boys a turn to tell 2 good things and 2 bad things that happened with their day, They know I am truly concerned and listening to them. We do that during dinner. MAybe one or both has something deep down they need to talk about and instead of doing that, they take it out on each other. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I also struggle with this between my 6 and 3 year old girls. My 3 year old has imaginary thinking going on and insists something is the truth when it isn't. My 6 year old loves to tell her she is wrong. It drives me crazy. I keep telling the 6 year old to say "You can think what you want" and leave it at that, but I think she likes to argue. I like the book "Siblings Without Rivalry". I can't think of the author's name right now, but you can probably find it on Amazon or something. Good luck!