Anyone managed to solve the issue of constant bickering? It found any strategies that actually work?
I have 3 boys age 7,4 and 1. The eldest two are constantly arguing. DS1 annoys DS2 who then screams really loud, all the time.
They don't hurt each other physically, they are actually lovely individually.
I think DS1 has ADHD, although as yet undiagnosed. He is very intense, has been since the day he was born. Full of emotion, very active, very obsessive, very argumentive, very loving, he is just A LOT. He is easily bored and the easiest thing to do is wind up his brother, and his brother is very easy to wind up.
It works both ways though. If DS1 is busy reading (sometimes he becomes engrossed and will read non-stop, very obsessive) and DS2 wants to play he will start to annoy him, make noises, sing the same song over and over etc and DS1 will hugely overreact.
Please don't tell me to occupy them more, DS1 is very occupied, so many activities and sports, he needs it, but I can't occupy him 24/7.
I've also stopped week day screens, and only a small amount at the weekend, which has actually made the bickering worse but helped tremendously with other things, so I don't really want to solve it by sticking the TV on (yet!)
Its really taking its toll on us, both of us are desperate to escape them at the weekend and have some time alone, and that makes me so sad as we used to do everything as a family.
TIA