Shannon Philpott-Sanders

A squabble over toys or a disagreement about house rules may seem pretty typical between a brother and sister. However, when the arguing escalates and disrupts home life for the entire family, it may indicate that sibling rivalry is rearing its ugly head.

According to New York-based Jane Greer, Ed.D., a nationally known marriage and family therapist and author of “What About Me? Stop Selfishness from Ruining Your Relationship,” when children aren’t taught to share, it results in severe sibling rivalry.

“The minute you have to share, the challenge is on,” Greer said. “If children aren’t taught to share, it will cause them to feel resentment, cheated and even controlled by siblings.”

Teaching your children to share may at times seem daunting. But creative play and activities that foster relationship-building can lead siblings away from screaming matches and rants of “That’s not fair” to a lifelong friendship where they understand each other’s likes and dislikes.

“The goal is to foster a sense of cooperative team spirit, teamwork and fun that comes from sharing fairly,” Greer said.