Information on sibling rivalry Information on sibling rivalry Sibling rivalry is as old as history. The Bible records the first murder occurring when Cain slew his brother Abel. Certainly, most brothers or sisters today are not trying to kill each other, but for many parents, the fighting among their offspring seems like perpetual war.
Most children appear to have quite a strong streak of competitiveness.
In the home, the most likely focus of that competition is the attention of the parents. They will often go to extreme lengths to try to get that feeling that they are the most special, favored child. Even in the happiest or most placid homes, some rivalry is going to occur. Children vie for the attention of those two most important people, their parents. Boundaries and rules need to be clearly set and routinely enforced to ensure each person in the home the right to feel and be physically safe.