Parental Error That Causes Jealousy Between Siblings
Parents do not receive an instruction manual that they can follow when it comes to raising their children. In fact, there are many mistakes they can make when it comes to parenting. For example, it is very common for parents to do certain things that can cause jealousy between siblings.
What things are we talking about? In today’s article, we will explain some of them in detail. Note that you can try to avoid them!
Parental error that causes jealousy between siblings
According to pediatricians Recuero Gonzalo and Bonet de Luna (2005), jealousy refers to “complex emotions formed by fear, sadness, anger and self-criticism that children may feel when another sibling is born.”
Some parents’ behavior, even if it is malicious, can cause jealousy between siblings. Let’s take a look at some of the behaviors that can cause these feelings.
Putting labels on children
Putting a label on a child is a very dangerous habit that parents should avoid at all costs. Constantly telling a child that they are “shy”, “lazy”, “clueless”, “stubborn” etc. can have a very negative effect on their personality development and self-esteem. This is because they will begin to internalize these adjectives and will believe that they really are these things. They want to fit into the shape that the adults in their lives give them.
Positive labels like “smart”, “fun”, “responsible” etc can also, albeit rarely, be harmful. These labels will also condition your child’s behavior, and these expectations can become frustrating if they are not met.
In addition, these labels can cause jealousy between siblings because one may feel less valued than the other.
To make unnecessary comparisons between your children
Many of the jealous feelings between siblings arise because their parents constantly compare them. As a result, there is an insane rivalry between them, and they always try to meet each other. This is harmful behavior that parents should avoid as it can cause a lot of harm to their children.
Giving the younger sibling excessive attention
In some homes, the youngest child is the protector of the family and therefore receives more attention. In addition to the extra attention, they can also get more love from their parents. This makes the other children feel left out and they then start to get jealous of their younger siblings.
To give the older child more responsibility
When a new sibling arrives, many parents decide to give their older children more responsibility. Often it is new tasks that they did not have to complete before their younger siblings arrived.
Suddenly, the older sibling’s life changes significantly. As a result, they may blame their younger siblings and develop feelings of jealousy toward them.
Conclusion
Every parent should work to avoid the behaviors we have mentioned. It has been proven that these behaviors only damage the relationship between your children and can cause jealousy between siblings.
No one said it was easy to raise children, but you have to work hard and do your best. To do this, it is important that you remember to treat all your children equally and to give each one the attention and affection they deserve.
