I have two five-year-olds. they are inseparable. they never want to be apart. unfortunately, it feels like 90% of the time they are together they are trying to kill each other. that's an exaggeration, but they do hit/kick/pinch, and they are absolutely constantly in conflict. the typical conflict goes like ths: eyob, the boy, dances around in juliet's face, picks at her, takes her things, etc., all in an effort to get a rise out of her, which is 100 % effective. she then proceeds to scream at the top of her lungs in this high pitched shriek, which unfortunatley isn't quite high-pitched enough - it is still extremely audible to humans. eyob laughs. then they start hitting/kicking/pinching the crap out of each other.

i feel like i've tried everything to get them to get along. reasoning with them, teaching them to use their words and respect each other's bodies, ignoring it and letting them figure it out themselves, and much too often it seems, resorting to yelling to get their attention.

they are driving me crazy and making me so sad. i just want peace in my house. they fight from the moment they wake up until they are asleep, but when we separate them, they are miserable and lonely for each other.

is this amount of sibling conflict normal?

HELP!

amanda

mine fight all the time too. I'd love some help with this issue. I read siblings without rivalry, and that helped a bit.

the typical conflict goes like ths: eyob, the boy, dances around in juliet's face, picks at her, takes her things, etc., all in an effort to get a rise out of her, which is 100 % effective. she then proceeds to scream at the top of her lungs in this high pitched shriek, which unfortunatley isn't quite high-pitched enough - it is still extremely audible to humans. eyob laughs. then they start hitting/kicking/pinching the crap out of each other.


It sounds like eyob is using conflict with his sister to relieve boredom. does this mostly happen when they are at home and not engaged in an activity? are there any warning signs that he is getting restless? not that you want to restrict his free play opportunities with his sisters, but he may need you to step in and offer activity suggestions to help him get out his energy in more positive ways. good luck!

this goes on at our house too, between my 5yo ds and my 2.5yo dd. The deliberate provocation is done by both of them but more often by him, and as a pp said it's generally when one or the other is bored. I do expect my kids to be able to creatively entertain themselves but this does seem to cross the line... sigh. anyway jsut finished Siblings Without Rivalry yesterday and hoping some of those tools will help...

sounds like my house!!! i wish i could help..i may have to look up that book!