Sibling Rivalry

A tough challenge for the parents to deal with

- Padmaja Menon

Sibling rivalry in children is the jealousy, competition and fighting among the brothers and sisters and sometimes it can get ugly. I remember my elder brother wasn't really happy when our younger brother was born. Our younger brother was born when I was 11 years old and then, naturally, he became a favourite. And the 'only male in the family' crown that Bhai had carried for fourteen long years passed from him to his brother.

Sibling rivalry may continue throughout childhood and it can be frustrating to parents. It could be due to jealousy or the feeling of getting unequal amounts of attention from the parents - parents who are a shared resource of love, nurturing and nourishment. It could be due to the arrival of a new baby, a new neighbour or even a little extra attention paid to each other or as simple as the arrival of a new pet.