If you have more than one child living in your home, you are familiar with the “natural” sibling dynamic. Siblings who are close, loving siblings usually have parents who have intentionally worked with them to help them develop a positive relationship. Left to their own devices, they are more likely to squabble, fight and generally dislike one another.
So what do these intentional parents do to help their kids have a loving relationship? Here are some of our favorites.
1. Teach your kids God wants them to love, serve and be kind to each other.
2. Remind your kids your family is a TEAM for God.
3. Teach your kids each one of them has special gifts from God they can use to serve each other, your family and God.
4. Do not let your kids use ugly words when speaking to each other.
5. Do not let your kids tease or say ugly things about each other.
6. Teach your kids how to end conflicts in Godly ways.
7. Encourage your kids to express their love for each other regularly.
8. Help your kids think of ways to encourage and serve each other. Encourage them to do these things regularly.
9. Do not treat one child with more or less love and kindness than your other children.
10. Work together as a family on service projects, sharing your faith and family projects.
In addition, you can study some of the following scriptures with your kids and talk about what they mean and how to live them: 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Peter 3:8, Proverbs 18:19, Galatians 5:22-23