Parents usually fail to intervene in escalated sibling conflict,
according to a study recently published in "Developmental
Psychology," even though they think they should intervene.
And this lack of parental action often results in life-long
psychological problems, often severe, especially for the
younger children who were victimized.Here's how parents can help: * Avoid Taking Sides, because it may spur feelings of
jealousy or increased hostility. * Acknowledge children's feelings, encouraging them to
learn to communicate with one another. * Suggest ways that children might learn how to solve
problems independently. * Don't Punish children without an explanation - and
don't threaten them. * Set Limits by clearly identifying the types of behavior
that are not acceptable. | 
