Is it normal for children to fight?

To a degree — yes. Physical conflicts between young children are a normal part of development. Not normal: when one systematically dominates or harms the other. The parent's job: not to eliminate all conflict (this is impossible and undesirable), but to teach children to resolve conflicts with words and acceptable means.

Jealousy of a newborn — how do you help the older child?

A normal reaction. Key approaches: prepare the child in advance, explaining what will change; give dedicated time with just them; allow negative feelings ("you're angry at the baby — that makes sense"); don't force them to "love" the new sibling — let the feelings be. Unconditional acceptance of the older child is a protective factor.

Sibling Rivalry: Why It Happens and How to Preserve Closeness

Sibling rivalry is a normal part of family life. How to help children build healthy relationships — and what intensifies the conflict.

🌿psybot.app·June 19, 2026·1 min read

"They always get more." "You love them more." "It's not fair!" Sibling rivalry is one of the most intense family dynamics.

1. Where Rivalry Comes From

Competition for resources: parental attention, love, and approval
Different temperaments sharing one space
Age gaps and associated inequalities
Intensified by favoritism or frequent comparison

2. What Intensifies Conflict

Comparing children to each other
Unfair distribution of resources and attention
Expecting the older child to "understand" and give way
Parental intervention in every conflict

3. What Helps

Individual time with each child
Not comparing, noticing what is unique in each child
Teaching conflict resolution — not solving it for the children
Shared rituals and activities that create positive experiences
Not casting one as "the good one" and the other as "the bad one"

Talk to our AI psychologist psybot.app. Read also: Comparing Children and Favoritism.

← All articles: Parent-Child Relationships