If your young children have a good relationship with each other how do you know?

[wasiwrongtoask]

If you are parents to two children both under 5 how do you know that they love or like each other? What are the signs and the red herrings such as them squabbling yet you still know they care about each other? I have two children and they just seem disinterested in each other

Mine are 5 and 2. I'm not sure that I can claim they have the best relationship- plenty of squabbling, accusations and "mummmmmy he hit meeeee" etc- but they have lovely moments every day, often towards bedtime, where they make each laugh hysterically about something ridiculously silly. Often they make up "games"- literally like running up and down the kitchen in dressing gowns or something equally advanced, lol. My eldest is very good with her little brother, shows an interest in him and isn't (often) jealous, so I think that sets the tone. But I suspect things might change when he's 3 and a bit more forceful. So we'll see. Things can change quickly!

How old are yours? Is it general indifference or outright aggression/hostility? I'm reading a book about siblings by the same people who wrote How to Talk so Kids Listen and it's good, if you're after that sort of thing.

Hi thanks for responding! One is 4 1/2 and the other 13 months. The book sounds great, what's the title please I think it would be worth buying just to see if I can promote more of a bond!

Oh, 13 months is still so tiny- I really wouldn't worry. I'm not sure mine had much of a bond when our youngest was that small. I think she started finding him a lot funnier when he turned 18 months ish and started to talk, interact with her a bit more. Now they can't get enough of each other! The book is here.