Siblings: You’re Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together

Brothers and sisters: they can make great friends, and it’s nice to have someone who’ll love you no matter what. But kids know siblings can be a real drag, too.

Written by James J. Crist and Elizabeth Verdick, this engaging and practical guide is aimed at helping children navigate sibling relationships. Written in a conversational tone, the book is packed with advice, exercises, and relatable scenarios that encourage siblings to foster teamwork, communication, and respect. The full-colour illustrations and humorous, kid-friendly text teach kids how to cope with problems of fairness, jealousy, conflict, tattling, privacy, and other things that can make having siblings so difficult.

The authors provide realistic strategies to help kids learn how to cope with a new baby in the home and how to handle special situations such as siblings with special needs, step-siblings, and adopted siblings.

It strikes the perfect balance between being light-hearted and informative, making it accessible to children while still addressing the complexities of sibling dynamics. Parents will also appreciate how the book promotes empathy and conflict resolution without oversimplifying the challenges of sibling relationships.

Unlike most other books on the topic, Siblings doesn’t dwell on sibling rivalry; it focuses on building positive relationships. After all, siblings can grow up to be the best of friends.

The book also doesn’t sugar coat the difficulties of siblinghood but frames disagreements as opportunities for growth and understanding. By encouraging children to embrace differences and work through frustrations, it helps them to recognise that being “stuck together” isn’t a problem. The emphasis on kindness, compromise, and shared responsibilities makes it a valuable tool for fostering a more harmonious home environment.

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