Brothers and Sisters
What can help make things a bit better?
Even though these things can be difficult sometimes, there are some things that can help make them easier. For example:
Talking
It helps to talk about something if you are upset, otherwise people won't know and then it's difficult to get it fixed. For example, you might feel like Mum or Dad loves your brother or sister more than they love you. It's important that you tell them how you are feeling and what has been happening to make you feel that way, so that they understand and have the chance to do something about it.
Listening
It helps if everyone has a turn to talk and when someone is talking, everyone else listens. This is an important part of helping to sort things out between people. So try to listen to what your brothers and sisters have to say - it doesn't mean you will always agree with them though!
Negotiating
Negotiating is a way to work out things between people. Like:
- who does what job?
- what are the rules about sharing?
- who chooses what to watch on TV?
It helps to use your listening and talking skills when negotiating - to say what you need clearly, and to listen carefully to what someone else needs. It's also important to be fair and to try to come up with a plan that has something good in it for everyone.