Childhood jealousy is a natural feeling that arises in children when they feel displaced. Adults should take these moments of jealousy calmly and naturally and, in addition, there are some recommendations to keep in mind:
– Before the arrival of a baby brother or sister, parents should talk to their child, no matter how old he or she is, and not hide the news from him or her.
– Explain that newborn children need more care and time, as they are very young and cannot fend for themselves.
– Thank him when he helps us and explain how proud we are of him for taking care of baby brother.
– Dedicate time to him. It is recommended that every day we find some time to do with him what he wants, without the baby being with us.
– Pay attention to him. Let him/her tell us what happened at school, how he/she is doing with his/her friends, etc.
– Explain that the new sibling has not come to replace him/her and that when he/she grows up a little they will play together and will be able to have a good time. It is advisable to tell him personal experiences, for example, how much fun we had with our siblings and even tell him that there were times when we were also annoyed that our mother could not be with us because she was with our little brother. In this way, she will understand that we understand how you feel.
– Do not compare them. Avoid references to how well the sibling behaves or that he/she should follow his/her example.
– Each sibling has his or her own space. Even if they share the same room, it is important that they feel they have their own space.
– Sharing should come from within. If the older brother doesn’t want his brother to touch his things we have to respect his decision (and the other way around).
