9 and 7 year old daughters constantly arguing

[Nik84]

I thought it was just a phase when they stared bickering as they always got on so well when they were younger. The past year it’s getting worse and worse. There’s rare moments when they play nicely but most of the time they are purposefully trying to get each other’s backs up. They scream and shout at each other at least 3 times a day. I don’t know what to do, I’ve tried giving them their own space and talking to them about how they are treating each other but it makes no difference. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do? Will they grow out of it? It’s all so sad.

do you ask each child what happened and how it began? Check that it's not one child repeatedly starting problems....

This sounds like exactly something that I had a few years ago! My daughters were constantly arguing, often over very little things. But they grew out of it, I think it’s just something that children these ages go through. You should honestly be glad that their arguing with each other now, in a few years they’ll be shouting at you instead! I found that they argued less after one of them went out for a sleepover, I think they need their own space, especially as they are 24/7 around each other. But it really just seems to be something that you grow out of.

When you say you give them their own space, what do you do exactly?

I used to say 'we all get cross from time to time but what's not okay is to scream/be unpleasant to one another'... or something along those lines. I'd follow this up with making them sit in separate rooms for a while. It worked a treat and they missed each other within minutes. They more or less stopped the bickering within a few weeks of me separating this which was a godsend because lockdown began soon after!

Nah.my sister and i still loathe each other at 50 and 52. Sometimes sisters just dont get on. Do they have different personalities? My sister and i are like chalk and cheese.

@ mogschristmascalamity

No idea why but your post made me howl with laughter!!

@YABVVU to be fair we do laugh about it now. In between arguing. Can manage a few hours together so we manage the annual family christmas weekend but lots of breaks and 10 other people to talk to.

Its taken 40 years though.

Mine are 10 and 8 and honestly argue like cat and dog. They absolutely adore each other though - but they’ve both just got big mouths and bad tempers!