Help
Your Child Get Along With Step-Siblings
How can you encourage children to get along with their step-siblings?
First
of all, you need to accept that children may never 'love' their stepsiblings.
Give
up any idea that they will become as close as 'real' brothers and sisters
and concentrate on findings ways of peaceful co-existence.
No
choice in the matter
You chose your partner. Your children did not choose your partner's kids!
If you've ever shared a house, remember how difficult flatmates can be?
And you usually have some say in choosing a flatmate.
Work
on getting them to live together in peace
Listen
to both sides, not only your child's. You have understood what is at the
basis of their (probably mutual) dislike, so call a family meeting to
discuss the situation. The most important thing here is to ban all name-calling,
criticising and other negative behaviour.
Insist
that since they live under the same roof, they must find a way of living
together. Get them to list the things that cause the most friction. Ask
them to choose the two or three that cause most arguments to find ways
of resolving the problem.
Present a united front
Despite
your natural inclinations, you and your partner must at all costs avoid
getting drawn into the conflict. Though you may act as impartial referees,
the onus is on them to resolve their differences.
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