Nearly every family experiences sibling rivalry of some type as their children grow up. It’s natural for them to be competitive and do such things as tattle on one another. How parents handle it is important.
One way of dealing with tattling is a method called “passive parenting.”
In passive parenting, parents have to first set ground rules for tattling. Tell your kids when it is OK for someone to tattle, such as when a child is being injured or when a child is being destructive. Let them know that if they tattle about minor things, that they will be the one getting punished.
Here’s what you should do when your child comes to you to complain about their siblings. Listen to the complaint and say something general like, “That’s not very fun,” or “I bet you hate when they do that?” Don’t worry about making suggestions or offering to correct the situation.
If your child persists in tattling, simply repeat your noncommittal statement. They may get frustrated but it will help them to solve their own problems. This method can be effective in many situations.
In other instances, it may be appropriate for your child to have input in setting some rules. For example, as children grow up they enjoy more and more privacy. As a result, they may feel that they don’t want their siblings to enter their rooms without their permission.
Establish a rule that the children need to ask permission to enter another sibling’s bedroom. If they then decide to disobey they will know there will first be a warning and then repercussions.
Sibling rivalry is a part of growing up and all families experience it to some degree. If you teach your child how to handle their own problems constructively, they will be able to use those skills later in life.
The author also frequently blogs on products including bathroom shower pans and custom shower pans.
