How I Make My Kids Love Each Other
Sweet Catherine asked in the comments a couple of posts ago:
You really have to write more about what you did (or didn’t do) to have siblings that do not fight over every little thing and get along so well. What’s your secret??
Man, I came up with some silly responses to this in my head. But with all kidding aside; reflecting while we were singing Kumbaya this morning, I tribute a large part of this phenomena to a simplicity-centered approach to setting the scene for cooperative and open ended play.
Implementing a nice mix of different sorts of opportunity to play can really foster sweet relations. Most of the time.
Just be careful: you might have to stop them from dating each other!
What tip would you give if someone asked you your advice on sibling harmony when they caught your kids on a good day?
I can help you make your kids love each other and like it! Contact me about the Get Your Bliss Back, Mama! coaching package (edited to add that email coaching is now available! Check out the details in the coaching page) by emailing me at kathy at blissbeyondnaptime dot com I have one more opening left mama and the bliss can be yours 
Hi Kathy, I am one of 7 kids! My mother made sure that we “made up”—-apoligized and said we were sorry after a disagreement.She did not allow us to carry grudges.Teach kids to forgive each other .after a fight, Yes, it will happen,no matter what kind of super mom you are.! You don’t want a sibling to still be angry,that her brother ate the last cupcake 30 years later, Umm….true sad story on my husband’s side of the family! Also do not have a “favorite” child. More about that later.
Thanks kathy ,for promoting good ideas on mamahood.
Thank you Lee Lee! I haven’t had to make my kids apologize to each other yet but I try to model it as often as I can. It sure warms my cockle when I hear one say “i’m sorry” unprompted. And not have a favourite ~ that makes me chuckle. I know this lady here who was upset because one of her kids got hurt and she was scared because he was her favourite. I think she was joking. How can you have a favourite? ~ I love my bubbahs equally so though they are challenging/loveable each in their own unique ways
Check this out on you-tube——Making”vision boxes”with Mark Montano. This could be used to make a happy family secret vison box! Looks like fun
for my two it’s about getting outside as much as possible, trying as far as possible to ensure that they are well rested and also ring fencing times which are one on one with each of them – my partner and I make ‘dates’ with each of them at the weekends… and they’re always so sweetly excited to see each other when they’re reunited! With our new found simplified play space I’ve lately also been discovering subtle things like having a table with access at both sides for drawing (just putting the long table at right angles to the wall rather than along it totally revolutionised that elbow nudging issue! they can stand on opposite sides – genius! why did it take me so long to get there…(?!))
Genius I agree! Funny how these things just dawn on us out of nowhere
And that’s brilliant the dates. They happen by accident sometimes here and each time I think how nice it is and how much more special it would be if it was intentionally done more often.
So sweet! Thanks for this Kathy! I also think that the age difference might help. I am sure that you loving kindness, sweetness and sense of humour is also part of it.
By the way, you gotta be a really pretty woman to stand so close to the camera and still look great! And great skin too!!
Love, Catxx
one thing that helps too is not to always compare kids.
“your siter or brother is such a good girl, why aren’t you like that?” kind of thing.
each kids is unique and has it’s own paterns and aknoledging this and showing them clearly we love ALL of them and it’s not a competition to get our love might help.
take care,
joanna
Hi Kathy! This post HITS HOME for us around here… believe it or not with a 18 month old and a three year old they already argue/screech quite a bit! I have been racking my brain for ways to calm them. The type of toys they are playing with most certainly has an effect on their relationship. You are right about that. But, I have not thought of your midwifes advice before…. such great insight! I hope it is not too late for I have MANY times asked my older to keep quiet as not to wake the younger….. ahk.
listening to you, with a morning coffee in hand
thank you, love your vlogs 