Spar Wars

Get fighting siblings to make peace.

- Malia Jacobson

Angelic images of smiling siblings make crowd-pleasing holiday cards, but the reality of life with two or more children is decidedly less picture perfect. According to research from the University of Toronto, toddler-age siblings clash more than six times per hour and siblings under age 7 fight, on average, every 20 minutes. Fights that get physical can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. If sibling fighting is stealing the peace in your household, read on for relief.

Early Years

Family Court

Research shows that conflict between young siblings is statistically normal, but regular bouts of biting, hitting and kicking aren’t. Parents should intervene when clashes between toddler-age siblings become violent, advises professionals at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Though kids as young as age 3 may be able to talk through minor disagreements that crop up during playtimes, they nearly always require guidance from a caregiver to navigate more heated exchanges and physical fights.