Discussion 5 Sibling rivalry

Next date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Presented by Mark Le Messurier 2022 SA Senior Australian of the Year

Discussion 5: Sibling rivalry

SIBLING RIVALRY – See it differently so you can empower your children and build their bond. Arguments and fights between siblings are normal, even though they are irritating and can sound awful. Do you remember arguments and annoyances with your sibling or siblings? It wasn’t easy, most of us have memories of frayed tempers, injustices, and perceived favouritism.

Firstly, sibling rivalry begins when the second child arrives, and the first-born is ‘dethroned’. Their universe suddenly becomes a shared one, and ‘number two’ can easily be viewed as a threat! From that moment children must share, and the stage for ‘sibling rivalry’ is set.

Secondly, the usual motivations behind sibling rivalry involve children competing for the same basic resources - for time, attention, love, toys, screens, being first, and approval from their parents. Interestingly, the closer siblings are in age, or developmentally, the more intense the love, the play and the rivalry.

I promise to offer you a sensible and sustainable plan. A plan filled with optimism and some highly constructive tools to work with. After all sibling relationships are often the longest lasting and the most intimate relationships formed by human beings, and frequently last longer than most friendships, through the deaths of parents and beyond many, many marriages. Sharing an extended history from early childhood into adulthood and beyond is significant and can add to the protective layers necessary for good mental health.

DISCUSSION GROUP SESSIONS

Wednesday 24 September, 10am - 12noon

Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton

Cost: Free, bookings essential.

For more information contact the Centre on 8372 5180 or email fpcc@unley.sa.gov.au

Parents can attend personalised sessions with child behaviour expert Mark Le Messurier throughout 2025, as he presents a different parenting topic each session. Numbers will be limited. Participants have the opportunity for discussion and to raise their own issues. Book one, a few or all sessions. We ask if you reserve a place in these free sessions that you do your best to attend. We are unable to cater for children in these sessions.

When

Location

Fullarton Park Community Centre, 411 Fullarton Road, Fullarton, 5063, View Map