While driving the car with your kids in the back seat, your 4-year-old tells your 5-year-old that he’s “a poopyhead,” and they start calling each other names until they are both very upset. What do you do? In the middle of the moment, it may be hard for you to realize this is perfectly normal for your kids to squabble, says Marian Edelman Borden, author of The Baffled Parent’s Guide fight. Siblings fight when they’re hungry, tired, bored, or when want Mom and Dad’s attention. Put kids in a confined space such as a car’s back seat and it’s likely they’ll eventually start bothering one another.
What to do:
• Let kids bring an activity in the car with them
• Listen to a music CD when you’re driving
• Play “I Spy” as you travel about
• Pull over if you are having a hard time concentrating on the road
Read more about sibling rivalry here.