Making Your Children Get Along

In case you hadn't figured it out from your own childhood, best friends forever is just a myth. Face it -- kids fight and they don't always fight fair. At some point during their childhood, your son or daughter is going to get in an argument with a classmate, neighbor or other acquaintance. {relatedarticles}So as a parent, where do you fit in when your child is butting heads with another kid? There are some simple measures you can take to deal - or not deal - with conflicts with a cool head. You need to accept that children have disputes, and they need to fight their own battles. Realize that some friendships naturally come to an end. Don't force it - if your child doesn't want to be friends with another kid, then let it go. So long as your child isn't being cruel to another, you should stay out of it and let your child make his or her own decisions.
Don't push a relationship between two children just because you're friends with the parents. This can be a recipe for disaster. If the friendship doesn't form on its own, then let it be. When it comes to playdates, two is the magic number. Once you start adding more children, especially before strong bonds are formed, it goes without saying that there are going to be problems.{relatedarticles} Nip this problem in the bud by keeping the gatherings intimate - as in your child and one other child. If your child has a disagreement with another child, talk to him or her about it. Do not encourage your child to get even or fight fire with fire. Always set a good example for your child. Treat your friends how you expect your children to treat their friends. Last but not least, stay out of it. Your children will learn to solve their own problems. While it's OK to give advice and guidance, don't do your child's bidding for him or her.