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Brothers, 5 and 8. They cannot be in the same room for 10 minutes without someone screaming. The older one winds the younger one up, the younger one hits, the older one cries foul, I end up refereeing.
Half term is coming and I'm dreading it. How much do you intervene?
We stopped refereeing. Unless there's blood or real danger, we say "sounds like you two have a problem, I'm sure you can work it out" and leave the room. Took a while but they fight less because there's no audience.
Separate one-on-one time helped us. The older one often winds up the younger one because he wants attention, even negative attention.
@DadOfGirls_x2 I'm worried the little one will get hurt if I leave them.
@Lina_M at 5 and 8 the size difference is real, so I get that. We stay in earshot but don't wade in straight away. Usually they sort it before we have to.
Step-dad to two boys, 6 and 9. What worked for us was a shared goal. Build a Lego set together, make a den, bake a cake. They have to cooperate. Not a cure but there's more peace.
Also 8 and 5 is a tough gap, the big one wants to do big kid stuff and the little one wants to join in. It gets better!
Thanks all. Going to try the shared project idea and stay in earshot. And possibly invest in earplugs.
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