Recognize your sibling today! April 10 marks National Sibling Day, a day to honor the relationships of brothers and sisters. More than 80% of people living in the US have a brother or sister. While there may be times of rivalry, nurturing sibling relationships is central to the healthy development of children and teenagers. Research shows that higher life satisfaction and lower rates of depression are reported by those who have developed a positive sibling relationship. Siblings are a vital source of emotional and psychological support during times of illness or trauma, even if they live far apart in adulthood.
There are many reasons why having a healthy relationship with your sibling is important. Siblings are forever confidantes. They are not always willing to divulge sensitive information to their parents, but feel comfortable sharing things with each other. They might feel safer expressing feelings to each other, and might serve as sounding boards for discussing sensitive topics and problems such as those related to mental health.
Siblings provide each other with an automatic peer group. From a young age, they must learn how to negotiate and manage conflicts, an important part of socialization. Having a sibling helps reduce feelings of being isolated. Younger siblings often look to older siblings to learn new skills and cultivate new interests. Research shows that sibling relationships promote empathy and enhance academic achievement.
Sibling relationships are also special because they are likely the longest relationship that they will have in life. Siblings connect with a shared history, consisting of memories and common experiences which are unique to each family.
While there are many benefits of having a healthy sibling relationship, there will inevitably be some conflict. COVID-19 has promoted closeness between siblings, but living in the reality of a lockdown or quarantine also adds stress and difficulty. Inherent in the close sibling relationship is competition to be considered the “most special” by parents. At its core, sibling rivalry is about “differentiation,” the developmental process of each child figuring out what is special and unique about themselves as compared to others. Siblings often quarrel because of this wish to be the “most special” child.
The good news for parents is that there are mitigation techniques which help to reduce conflict and improve sibling relationships. Optimizing sibling relationships at a young age reduces the risk of conflicts becoming exaggerated during adulthood. Some strategies for parents include determining what causes conflicts before they intensify, helping siblings to resolve the conflict through problem solving, offering praise for positive behaviors shown, and celebrating cooperation rather than favoritism.
With this in mind, make today an occasion to call your own sibling(s). Encourage your children to speak kindly to each other. Celebrate the importance of this unique relationship!
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.