4. Teach them to work it out themselves. Once you've established the household rules, including treating each other with respect and seeing things from another person's perspective, encourage your children to settle a dispute themselves in a healthy, positive manner. Not only will this make life easier on you, but you'll be training your children a valuable skill they'll use all their lives.

5. Cut down the stress, promote balance. As mentioned in previous newsletters, being a child can be a very stressful occupation. And it can play a big role in your children's moods and how they deal with siblings. By making sure your children are not overwrought, get plenty of rest, eat healthy, exercise, etc., this will help cut down on the episodes of sibling rivalry.

6. Eliminate the guilt. As discussed earlier, every child is unique. Each child has a different place in the family and in the pecking order, which, in turn, can produce guilt in one child, and resentment in another child. The best way to avoid this, once again, is to eliminate comparisons and promote each child's uniqueness and special qualities.

7. One-on-one time. Sibling rivalry is often the result of children seeking attention from mom and dad. So, try spending some quality one-on-one time, where mom or dad doesn't have to be shared with another sibling, with each child on a regular basis. Making this a regular occurrence will incorporate it into the family routine, and give each child something special to which he/she can look forward.

8. Family togetherness. One of the best ways to cut down on the sibling rivalry is to do things as a family unit, as a team. It could be a night out at the movies, at an event, etc. The point being to do something that doesn't involve competing against each other, but pulling together and enjoying together as a cohesive family unit.

9. Have a family meeting. Similar to points one and nine, a family meeting involves both communication and working together as a team. This is a time when feelings can be voiced and dealt with in a constructive manner, thereby role-modeling the desired behaviour.

10. Teach values. This goes for just about any aspect of parenting, but the best way to cut down on sibling rivalry is to instil in your children the values - such as respect for others, cooperation, tolerance, kindness, generosity, and so on - that you want in your children in any situation and throughout life.

Like all aspects of parenting, implementing these ten suggestions takes some work and effort. But the reward will be worth it.

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