Getting teens to be nicer to their siblings

Vanessa Van Petten, Youthologist , shares advice for parents on how to not only get their teenage child to be nicer to their siblings but on how to be a role model for them
Sibling Rivalry Tip | Getting Teens To Be Nicer To Their Siblings
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Getting teens to be nicer to their siblings

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When you have a teenager in the house, sibling rivalry can become a problem if there's younger kids around. So for parents, the first thing to know is to never compare your teenager to your younger child or to compare your younger child to your older child. It sets up a bad relationship between the two and it can increase tensions in the household. Second, make sure to ask your teenager to mentor that younger kid. A lot of the times teenagers don't realize they actually are a role model for their younger sibling. And if they maybe take their younger sibling out to play or to talk to them about relationships, it can set up a nice mentor relationship between the two of them and lessen rivalry in the household.

Vanessa Van Petten, Youthologist , shares advice for parents on how to not only get their teenage child to be nicer to their siblings but on how to be a role model for them

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Vanessa Van Petten

Youtholgist

Vanessa Van Petten is one of the nation's youngest experts, or 'youthologists' on parenting and adolescents.  She wrote her first parenting book, You're Grounded, from the teen's perspective when she was just 17. After winning the Mom’s Choice Award in 2009, she launched her popular parenting website, RadicalParenting.com, which she now writes with 120 other teenagers to answer questions from parents on everything from communication issues to cyberbullying. Vanessa's unique approach has been featured by CNN, CBS Miami, Fox New York, Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, and many more.  She was also on the Real Housewives of Orange County helping the housewives with troubled teens. Her latest book, Do I Get My Allowance Before or After I'm Grounded?  won the Moms Choice Award in 2012. 

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Transcription: 
When you have a teenager in the house, sibling rivalry can become a problem if there's younger kids around. So for parents, the first thing to know is to never compare your teenager to your younger child or to compare your younger child to your older child. It sets up a bad relationship between the two and it can increase tensions in the household. Second, make sure to ask your teenager to mentor that younger kid. A lot of the times teenagers don't realize they actually are a role model for their younger sibling. And if they maybe take their younger sibling out to play or to talk to them about relationships, it can set up a nice mentor relationship between the two of them and lessen rivalry in the household.