By age 4 or 5, it’s easier for children to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, and how their actions may impact someone else. To help with sibling conflicts, suggest to parents that they:

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1. Think of their goal as guiding children to eventually resolve conflicts themselves by seeing the other person’s perspective, NOT by being the referee.
2. Discuss how the other sibling is feeling (“What would your sister say?”)
3. Ask children how they would feel in similar circumstances (“How would you feel if that was you?”)
4. Help make repair (“What can we do to make this right and move on together?”)