Sibling Jealousy
Sibling jealousy happens when an only child is dethroned by the new baby who gets all the attention. But it can also happen when adopted or foster kids are added to the home; or when stepsiblings come for a weekend visit. Because the fear of being displaced is usually at the heart of these situations, the prescription is essentially the same. Move emotionally toward the jealous child. Spend time with them, invite them to play a helpful role with the new sibling, and then foster a sense of team.
Show Notes
About the Guest
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Sibling jealousy happens when an only child is dethroned by the new baby who gets all the attention. But it can also happen when adopted or foster kids are added to the home; or when stepsiblings come for a weekend visit. Because the fear of being displaced is usually at the heart of these situations, the prescription is essentially the same. Move emotionally toward the jealous child. Spend time with them, invite them to play a helpful role with the new sibling, and then foster a sense of team.
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Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and ...more
Sibling jealousy…can happen at any age.
Ron: Sibling jealousy…can happen at any age.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: We all know sibling jealousy happens when an only child is dethroned by the new baby who gets all of mom and dad’s attention. But it can happen with older kids, as well, like when adopted or foster kids are added to the home; even when stepsiblings come for a weekend visit. Because the fear of being displaced is usually at the heart of all these situations, the prescription is essentially the same.
Move emotionally toward the jealous child. Spend some time with them and make them feel special. Next, invite them to play a helpful role with the new sibling, and then foster a sense of team in your home. When there is more enough love to go around, love goes around. For FamilyLife Blended, I’m Ron Deal.
Announcer: To find out more visit familylifeblended.com.
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