Ask an Expert

September 2007

Sibling Relationships

Amanda Kolburn, Ph.D.

• Biography
• Resources
• Questions & Answers

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.

Ask an Expert Main Page IEL Resources

Home | About IEL | Resources | Calendar | Questions | Ask an Expert | Contact | Search
Acerca de IEL | Recursos | Calendario | Preguntas | Pregunte a un perito | Contáctenos | Búsqueda

NOTE: There may be publications on this page that are available as PDF (portable document format) files. To be able to read these files, download the free Adobe Reader.

Disclaimer

The opinions, resources, and referrals provided on the IEL Web site are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. We encourage you to seek direct local assistance from a qualified professional if necessary before taking action.

The content of the IEL Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education.