The roots of sibling rivalry as a teen are complicated. Untangling them can help to keep the competition friendly.
On your marks… get set… GO! A running race at the park. Who’ll be the first to reach that tree? You or your sibling?
You’ll often hear that having a brother or sister means you’ll never be lonely and it’s true that, for many, it does mean there’s always a playmate on hand. But most games have winners and losers and, generally speaking, losing doesn’t feel good. It’s understandable, then, that if your earliest experiences of competition are with siblings, there might also be an element of resentment.
HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR SIBLING BOND
If you’re struggling with sibling rivalry, clinical psychologist Smriti Joshi has these suggestions:
- Take time for self-reflection, focusing on your own identity and how having a sibling has added more colour to your life, as well as to your sense of self and how you relate to others.
- Reflect on memories and pictures from childhood and how your unique identities have evolved.
- Meaningful one-on-one moments build a stronger relationship. Try to spend quality time with your sibling at least once a week.
- Discovering mutual interests will enhance your relationship. Work on developing them together, so you can enjoy more shared experiences.
WORDS: Sarah Rodrigues
ILLUSTRATIONS: Rowena Sheehan
