Raising Loving Siblings

Jonathan Caspi, PhD, MSW, is Professor of Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Dr. Caspi is an internationally recognized sibling expert. In addition to researching, writing, and teaching about families and siblings, he has been a family therapist for over 30 years, and has a private practice in New Jersey.

• Introduction1. “Can’t You Two Just Get Along?”: Going from Sibling Conflict to Sibling Closeness2. “Time for a Family Meeting!”: Preparing for Sibling Conflict Before It Erupts3. “Stop Fighting Right This Instant!”: Managing Sibling Conflict When It Erupts4. “I Love All My Children the Same”: Dealing with Perceived Favoritism5. “This Is My Angel and This Is My Devil”: Avoiding Sibling Comparisons6. “You’re Just Like Your Father!”: Dissolving Rigid Parent–Child Teams7. “This Is My Athletic Child”: Helping Children Find Their Special Talent without Hurting Their Siblings8. “But I Love Baseball”: Curbing Your Own Biases9. “Leave Him Alone! Your Brother Has an Issue”: Spotting Crafty Attention-Getting Behaviors10. “Can’t You Two Find Something To Do?!”: Addressing Boredom and Providing StructureBibliographyIndex

“For frustrated parents everywhere! If your family struggles with sibling rivalry, Dr. Caspi is here to help you understand what’s normal and when and how you need to step in. A seasoned therapist, he combines research with user-friendly, concrete guidance on how to prevent blowups, manage high-stress situations, and help your kids truly get along."--Robert Taibbi, LCSW, private practice, Charlottesville, Virginia"Sibling relationships are complicated. But Dr. Caspi deftly explains why children constantly squabble and compete and shows you how to help them support each other instead. You’ll find clear examples of language to use, plus tons of problem-solving options. Good sibling relationships are a template for successful relationships throughout life. Give your children the gift of these skills by reading this book."--Martha Sweezy, PhD, therapist and author, South Portland, Maine"In this wise book, Dr. Caspi describes clear steps for managing sibling rivalry, including what to say to kids--and what not to say--before, during, and after yet another kerfuffle. Dr. Caspi does a marvelous job of translating years of experience as a researcher and family therapist into straightforward actions that parents can take."--Martha B. Straus, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Antioch University New England“Your kids will probably know each other longer than most other people in their lives. While there are plenty of books on marriage, parenting, and even friendships, sibling relationships are often overlooked. Dr. Caspi fills a gap with this accessible guide to how parents can overcome sibling conflicts, rivalry, and other common sibling issues. Families will be grateful for this book!”--JoEllen Patterson, PhD, LMFT, Marital and Family Therapy Program, University of San Diego-