Tame sibling battles today!

Hello, Happy Humans!

Before we dig into our 3 things, we want to let you know that all 10 modules of our '57+ Ways to Chill' workshop are ready for you!

We're still working on getting the infrastructure set up to offer the workshop as a standalone activity (it should be ready by Monday), so right now the only way to access it is by being a member of The Collective.

Just a heads up... once we officially launch 'CHILL' on Monday, we'll be switching our 7-day free trial over to a 7-day money back guarantee.

So... this is your last chance to join us in The Collective at NO INITIAL COST to explore all of our workshops, biweekly webinars, downloadable resources, private community space, and more!

You can use this link to learn more about starting your 7-day free trial while it's still available.

Now... onto our weekly 3 things...

1️⃣ A question from our community

2️⃣ Our actionable tips

3️⃣ A resource from our toolkit

1. The question

“How can I help my 3-year-old stop hitting, pushing, and grabbing his 1-year-old brother?”

2. Our actionable tips

It’s incredibly challenging when you feel like you can’t turn away for even two seconds without your kids bickering or all out fighting each other. 

It’s exhausting. But the good news…

The hitting, pushing, and grabbing are all actually pretty ‘normal’ at this stage. As hard as it is to deal with, these behaviors are expected from a development perspective.

So, now that we know this is ‘typical,’ here’s what we can do to manage it all.

Validate Their Feelings

It’s not always easy to remember in the moment, but we want to validate the sibling who’s clearly having a hard time (the one doing the hitting). 

Sharing attention, space, and toys can feel REALLY overwhelming for our kids, and sometimes that frustration comes out through those undesirable behaviors.

It helps for us to acknowledge this by saying something like…

"Having a sibling can feel really hard!" 

This lets them know that their feelings are ‘normal’ and will help them feel understood.

Step in Early 

Another helpful approach is to step in early, BEFORE their big emotions escalate to the level of hitting or pushing. 

You know the signs… 

Loud voices and rough tones often precede those larger behaviors and serve as a cue that tension is rising.

In these moments, PAUSE what you’re doing (we know it’s hard, but dinner can wait!) and try saying… 

"Okay… let’s all figure this out together." 

We can then model how to manage overwhelming feelings. Instead of telling them what NOT to do, try focusing on what they CAN DO. 

For example, instead of “Don’t hit,” say, “Let’s use gentle hands” and then demonstrate what that looks and feels like.

Giving our kids clear, direct language will help them understand what to do (rather than what not to do). It also reinforces that gentle interaction is possible, even when we’re feeling those BIG emotions.

Give 1-on-1 Time

We hope you’re not sick of hearing this, but our go-to strategy when our kids are having a hard time with ANYTHING is to give them extra attention in the form of dedicated one-on-one time. 

It might feel a bit counterintuitive… giving MORE attention when they're acting out… but trust us, it will make SUCH a difference.

Even short (we’re taking just a few minutes) of focused moments together will reassure our kids that they’re valued and important, which will ease feelings of rivalry and frustration. 

Connection will always be the most powerful tool that we have in our toolbox.

3. From our toolkit

We’re planning a whole workshop on creating sibling harmony, but for now, here’s a helpful family meeting printable you can use today to build family connections and grow stronger sibling relationships. Grab it for only $1!

We’ve been trying to meet as a family each week to reflect on the strategies we’ve used, notice where our kids are growing in their relationships, and also identify areas that need more attention or a change. 

Want to know the 4 questions we talk about with our kids each week to improve their relationships with their siblings? 

Grab our Family Chat printable for just $1!

You'll get both the colorful version and a printer friendly black and white one.

*A quick note to the members of The Collective…

You’ll find this printable within the Digital Downloads section of your Happy Human Library.

Not a member yet? Join us risk-free for 7 days to get instant access to the Family Chat printable along with ALL of our self-paced workshops, biweekly live webinars (and recordings), and so much more!

As always, thanks for being here. 🙂

❤️ Jenilee & Greg

*We personally use and love all of the products and resources we suggest. If you decide to check out any of the affiliate links we share, just know that we may get a small commission.