Why Sibling Jealousy Happens
When a new baby joins the family, older children might feel like they’re losing attention or being replaced. These feelings of jealousy are natural but can be challenging for parents to navigate. Understanding why this happens is the first step to helping your child cope with their new family dynamics.
Helping Your Child Adjust
1. Acknowledge their feelings: Let your older child know it’s okay to feel upset or jealous. Giving them a safe space to express their emotions is key. 2. One-on-one time: Make sure to carve out special time just for your older child. Even short moments of undivided attention can reassure them that they’re still an important part of the family. 3. Get them involved: Give your child simple, age-appropriate tasks to help with the baby. This makes them feel included and needed.
Using Stories to Ease Jealousy
Storytelling can be a wonderful tool to help older children process their emotions. Smart Storytime offers personalized storybooks where your older child becomes the hero, learning to love and care for their new sibling. These stories show them that while the family dynamic is changing, there’s plenty of love to go around.
How Smart Storytime Can Help
With Smart Storytime, you can create customized stories that address sibling jealousy in a gentle, relatable way. Your child will see themselves in the story, learning to embrace their new role with confidence and empathy. These stories can turn sibling rivalry into sibling bonding.