driven to distraction by sibling arguments

[SophieBarringtonWard]

My 2 DC are arguing all the time at the moment (with odd patches of getting on really nicely which just goes to show they can do it!). They are two girls, 6 and 3, and EVERYTHING is a battle ground. If one wants to watch Katie Morag the other doesn't. If one wants to sit on a particular chair, the other wants to sit there too. It's mainly driven by the 3 year old but the 6 year old is hypersensitive to everything the 3 year old does, & I just can't stand the conflict! I have the How To Talk siblings book & will read it again, but any tips to get me through the weekend without slaughter?!

[Iggly]

Encourage them to take turns. Sometimes you have to anticipate the arguments too. So you know they'll argue over TV so have a rule before it switches on about one picking first then the other and that's it. Try and get them to ask each other nicely for things.

Mine are 5&3 and argue a lot. The three year old says stuff more for effect. We've been working on trying to get them to be nice to each other e.g. suggesting they think about how the other one feels etc.

If they fight over a chair, you sit on it (common enemy).... Or get them to take turns. Etc etc.

I would read some of the book tonight for a few ideas!