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Sibling Relationships

Amanda Kolburn, Ph.D.

September 2007

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The relationship between brothers and sisters is unique and is usually the longest relationship we will have in our lives. In childhood, sibling relationships are often intense, filled with a variety of emotions such as love and hate, enjoyment and anger, kindness and cruelty, sharing and conflict. As parents, we want children to get along—not just to make life easier for us, but because children's siblings can be sources of support, caring, and fun. Siblings also learn the importance of social skills such as sharing and caring from each other. Keep in mind that some fighting can be a normal part of sibling relationships; this is one way that children learn how to negotiate conflicts with others. The challenge for parents is to promote positive interactions between brothers and sisters while also giving them tools to handle conflict effectively.

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