Help! My Kids Won't Stop Fighting!

Hello P., my time with young ones fighting like that has long past, due to the fact that they are older, but, what I did then to help, I do today, and they are older still doing the same thing, fighting and arguing just in a different aspect! At first, all that you have done, I did, then, I decided, first I needed to find out from each of them why they were fighting, then, sat down with them to discuss a possible solution, bottom line when there was not a possible solution, I decided to let them know that since the both were fighting then both would get punished, but at a discretion,depending on the situation. In the discussion, I would also find out what was a favorite toy, show, etc. Now remind you, you have one of each sex, which means 2 different personalities!I know with work, and everything, it will be a REAL TASK AT FIRST, but then everything WILL come together, and then you can continue to adjust as they get older and their identity and individualism changes.

I'm not sure if this will work for you but it helps me out. I have a 9 year old and a 3 year old. Whenever they start fighting like you describe above they have to sit on the couch and hold hands for 3 min and sometimes if it is real bad I make them hug for 3 minutes. After this they dont want each other for a while so they both go do there own thing and leave each other alone.

good luck!

Thank God~I'm not the only one!
My children are 5 & 10 and they do the same thing. If they're not fighting each other they're arguing with me. I'm a single parent, recently returned home from an 18 month unaccompanied tour overseas where both my boys were separated from each other as well as myself. We've been trying family counseling but can only get so far... I wish I had a suggestion for you but I can't seem to get my own household together. Good luck!

Hi P.,
I dont have experiance in children fighting, I have only one child, but I am a love and logic mom and do believe that this website may have some useful information to help you. www.loveandlogic.com , There's articles to read http://www.loveandlogic.com/press.html
, online stories to listen to http://www.loveandlogic.com/audioclips.html , I've subscribed to there weekly news letter with just wonderful information. then of corse classes you can take at elementary schools and books and CD's to buy, and I'm even thinking of going as far as Teaching Classes. I love and believe in it so much, It has definetly stoped the fighting between me and my son and has brought so much peace to our home, it has keept my head clear, and actually made me excited for my son to make mistakes, because there concept is "Have your child learn from as many mistakes while the price tag is still small" so now when he makes a mistake, I think "Oh yea! another oppurtunity for him to learn for when he grows up and is out in the real world". And then it teaches me how to handle situations with love and empathy. Enough out of my, Best of luck.:)

Try _Siblings Without Rivalry_, it's a great book!