If your children fight and hit each other -- you're not alone. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of families report some physical violence between their children, according to Dr. Ruth Peters, author of "Laying Down the Law." Fighting siblings is one of the most troubling problems for most parents and they often feel helpless to prevent them. Sibling battles can occur as a result of clashing personalities, rivalry, boredom, resentment or jealousy, or to gain your attention. Although you might feel their fighting is out of your control, you can help them develop better social skills.
Step 1
Step in to stop the fighting and hitting. Separate the siblings, either in the same room or in different areas of your home. Even if there's only verbal abuse without hitting, it's important to immediately stop it to prevent emotional scars, which take even longer to heal than physical scars, according to Dr. William Sears. Keep the siblings separated in their own spaces until they've calmed down to prevent the fighting from starting again.