My brother and I were evil to each other. My mother said she never knew children who fought as much as we did. She even showed me an article that put it all down to penile envy lol!!
But I'm to think of some of the things I did. The worst was helpfully nudging him downstairs when he was about 6 and he rolled like a hedgehog.
I am not typing this looking forlornly out of a borstal window and my brother and I get on fine now as adults.
I'm thinking now what would have stopped me?
Lots of open cuddles, affection and the words 'I love you' heard everyday. My brother was the favoured child & I was jealous, which doesn't mean I wasn't loved, I was, but just something I sensed and confirmed later by another relative.
Distraction and after school/wkend activities. Keeping ds so busy and on the go that he doesn't have the energy. My brother and I had too much time on our hands.
Giving each enough of your exclusive time. His time with mum when he comes home from school?
A serious fatherly word along the lines of "Son, I'm disappointed in you. That's no way to treat your sister..." - would have had the same effect if my dad had said it to me. Or my g-ps.
And remove dd when he gets too rough. If my brother was going to cry and tell my mother, I made sure that last wallop was the hardest.
I know, I know