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Question: How Do I Handle Fighting Siblings?

This moms talk question has to do with siblings.

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Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

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Question: How Do I Handle Fighting Siblings?

Karen Stack:

Find out what's happening in Andoverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

There's a rule in my house that if siblings fight they both get a consequence.  It doesn’t matter whose fault it is, or who started it~ they either lose their electronics for the remainder of the day (a total drag if its early in the day), or go to bed a half-an-hour early.   I refuse to be the referee and decide who’s right or wrong. 

Despite my constant reminder that there’s no fighting in the house, when it does occur, I encourage my two kids to learn to walk away from each other.  When they bicker or hit anyway, it's back to doling out equal consequences, that is, unless there is blood- then the "perp" might lose that week's allowance or a long-awaited playdate.

Cindy Bernstein:

I can only say that it was difficult having two girls that were three years apart.  I can't really give any advice except to say it got better as they got older.

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