Anyone that knows me knows that I put a lot of effort into helping my kids grow beautiful siblings’ relationships. It is a priority for me. Since having lots of positive interactions is the main tool for building beautiful relationships, we specifically try to do sibling bonding activities.
There are certain activities that are available to most and are great opportunities to create beautiful peaceful interactions between siblings. We have three boys, and these are our favorite brother bonding activities.
1. Cooking and baking
Children of all ages love cooking and baking, and even very young children can help in the kitchen by pouring or mixing ingredients.
Cooking and baking are great sibling bonding activities because they will make them work as a team to achieve a goal. And the goal could be to get to eat cookies, which is an extra gratification point.
Most times, cooking or baking can be its own rich sensory activity. It will also teach them to count, measure, even read and write if they are old enough.
For siblings of different ages, this will create a beautiful dynamic.
The older ones will learn to be patient with their younger siblings, to teach and encourage them. The younger ones will learn to trust and learn from their bigger siblings.
There is no room for any kind of competition.
To me, it is very important to help my children love each other for the rest of their lives. Because of that, we have an unwritten rule in our house. We allow for things that we wouldn’t allow as long as it is brotherly enough.
So imagine we are in the supermarket and one of them starts to ask for cookies, and the other one obviously follows. I will tell them.
Look, we will not buy these. But if you want, you can make some yourselves. I can find a recipe for you.
This works out perfectly in our family. First of all, since my kids have lots of food allergies we really can’t buy most processed food anyway. So it is easier for us to make them make treats that are not as bad for them.
If they really want to eat cookies, they will work together to get to eat cookies. If they are a little too lazy for that, they will stop asking for cookies.
2. Collaborative games and board games
We love board games in our house. And the ones for little kids are just so adorable!
The competitive board games are fun too. I don’t think they are evil. But I think avoiding competition and comparison is very important if you want to avoid sibling rivalry and foster a good sibling relationship.
They will learn to be competitive outside of the home, in school, or in other environments. And people will always compare them, even strangers. So I think avoiding all ways of competition at home can create a safer environment.
Board games teach them a lot of things too, the most important ones being to wait their turn and let others play as they wish.
When my kids do something else together, like building LEGOs, the older one always has the impulse to teach the young one how to do it. This intention is beautiful sometimes, but not always. Other times it is bossy and doesn’t feel good for the little one.
In most board games, the turns are very differentiated. Every player has the time and freedom to do whatever they like. So they learn to respect each other turns and decisions.
These are some of the games that we have and enjoy in our family:
3. Outside activities
Nature and physical activity make people happy.
One of the best ways to help siblings bond is to allow them to have positive interactions and experiences without our presence. With small children, this means our presence in the distance, of course.
By doing outings in relatively safe outside places like the beach, a camping site, or generally any place where they can’t get run over, you will be able to give them the space to explore and play without you.
Nature also gives a sense of danger, sometimes, that children need to experience and explore on their own. Controlled risk-taking is very important for children to learn.
The most enriching activities for siblings are sometimes the ones where they are feeling a little too free, a little mischievous.
4. Indoor children’s parks
Indoor children’s parks are usually very safe, and they allow your children to be more independent than outside parks from a younger age.
Exercise releases oxytocin, which is the hormone that makes us happy.
There is not much room for competition, and there is room to help each other out. V loves to carry balls for A to throw, and A feels so proud when he has to help V reach somewhere. They love to go on slides together in different positions.
And it is also a good place for us parents to rest and talk, knowing that if they get hurt, it won’t be bad.
Sometimes, when one of them falls and gets a little upset, they just take care of each other and keep playing, because it is so fun, that it’s not even worth it to be upset.
5. Gardening
Gardening is also an activity that very small kids can participate in. Digging and watering are things every child can do, even babies. At the same time, it can be stimulating for older children too.
Similar to cooking and baking, gardening is sensory-rich for the little ones and it can even become scientific for the older ones. There is no room for competition and is very relaxing.
This is the typical activity that children do with their grandparents, at least in my culture. It is very special and enriching.
6. Bath time
If your kids love bath time, take advantage of it.
Have some bath toys and activities ready to make every time they bathe together fun.
There are many different kinds of ways they can entertain themselves in the water. Here are not-so-typical bath toys that we enjoy:
They can help each other by washing their hair and rubbing their back and that will create some intimacy. Bath time is also a wonderful time to teach our children body boundaries, consent, and respect.
7. Organized activities for siblings
If they have the opportunity to join an extracurricular activity that they both enjoy like swimming, gymnastics, or any other physical activity that is not inherently competitive, having a special thing that is theirs to share will help siblings bond.
If they end up liking it and doing it for years, even if it is not always together in the same group, they could end up sharing hobbies as adults too.
Even organized events that happen sporadically but are special experiences they can share without you can create wonderful memories.
What other easy sibling bonding activities does your family enjoy?
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