Dear YPP, My kids just won’t stop bickering, fighting and being horrible to each other. It happens all the time and I don’t know how to deal with it anymore. No matter what I do, it just keeps getting worse. Please help. Dear Parent, This is a challenge that all parents face but one that with the right tools and approach can be managed very effectively. The first thing I always like to think of, as with any behavior challenge, is: What is the purpose of the behavior? Generally the motivating factor behind this type of behavior is: A child striving to seek significance within the family and/or A child trying to get the parents involvement and attention The child is often trying to assert him/herself, establish the hierarchy and see if they can pull rank on their sibling. It’s an even higher accomplishment to pull rank on Mum/Dad and get Mum and/or Dad on side in the process! Very often in these situations, parents do not witness the exact chain of events leading up to the moment of conflict and often base their reaction / response on what has typically happened in the past or what they think might …Read more →