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Downplay Sibling Rivalry in Sports

Minimize sibling rivalries to put the fun back into sports in your family.
Updated: December 1, 2022

Downplay Sibling Rivalry in Sports

Try these tips for keeping sibling rivalries to a minimum in your family.

DO

  • Encourage your child to try new activities.
  • Encourage your child to work on skills.
  • Offer praise for whatever he or she does well.
  • Allow your child to pick his own sports, regardless of what sport the sibling chooses.
  • Praise siblings for teaching or supporting one another.
  • Give equal attention to nonsports interests.
  • Keep as many options as possible open to each child.

DON'T

  • Play favorites.
  • Compare your kids.
  • Assign roles to your kids.
  • Limit their areas of interest.
  • Forget to encourage youngest siblings.
  • Let competition enter the home.
  • Let your youngest child become just a spectator.

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