How to stop siblings from squabbling

I'm sure as a parent you've had those moments when you look at your beautiful children and wonder why they won't stop squabbling and screaming at each other over the most minor difficulties.  I have had many of these moments as a parent myself and I was happy to find an article in the recent Parents magazine that gave some solutions to this ongoing issue.  If you are willing to put in the work, and frankly who isn't, you can change the pattern of fighting with your kids.

You can start by referring to your children as a team as much as possible.  Praising their positive interactions and having siblings feel like they are working together instead of opposing each other will naturally help them feel like more of a unit.  Help your children by setting up these situations in your home.  This can be done by providing opportunities such as fort building, baking, and even setting the table together.  

Try to stay out of the conflict resolution as much as possible (unless it is becoming physical, verbally abusive or emotionally heated). If your children have been given the tools to name their emotion and come up with a compromise that will solve the situation they need to have the opportunity to practice and hone these skills.   If you do need to get involved make sure it is in the role of mediator.  Have your children take turns expressing their side of the story - without insults.  Then have them work out solutions to the problem - they may need some adult support in coming up with solutions.  Evenutally, they will learn to resolve their disagreements on their own.

The keys to conflict resolution are in your hands to be taught to your children - learning to express themselves calmly, listen to each other, validate another persons perspective, and come to an agreement.