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When parents compare their children, they're only adding to the potential for sibling rivalry. Nip that in the bud and stop comparing your children.

Siblings are bound to fight. This may just be some sort of unwritten rule or maybe it’s just hard coded into our human DNA.

Whatever the case may be, the likelihood that there will be peace between siblings is highly unlikely. But are parents also part of the problem?

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When parents compare their children, whether it’s intentional or not, they are contributing to sibling rivalry.

Every child is unique, and this is exactly as it should be. Ask any person, child or adult, whether they like being compared to someone else and the answer will inevitably be a big “no.”

So why do we compare our children to each other? We generally do this because we somehow feel that it will make our children want to perform better. However, it has the opposite effect. And even when it works, it leaves negative consequences.

What can we do to stop this destructive habit? We need to recognize and admit that we do this, and then make a conscious effort to change our actions. But why is comparing children to one another so terrible anyway? Here are some of the reasons comparisons should have no place in our parenting.

Comparisons Cause Children to Feel “Less Than”

Self-esteem is a healthy component for everyone, and it is essential for all of us to have this. Without self-esteem, your child will feel that they never match up and will be unable to achieve their goals in life. Comparing them to other children causes them to feel worthless and unworthy, which can result in a self-destructive attitude and hopelessness to set in.

Comparisons Cause Sibling Rivalry

Comparing children to each other is a sure way to stoke the fires of sibling rivalry. Children who are made to feel inferior to a sibling will fight to take back that power. Your children will never live peacefully among each other if you are comparing them to one another.

Helpful books for parents:

 Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life TIME The Science of Siblings Why Can’t We Get Along?: Healing Adult Sibling Relationships The Sibling Connection: How Siblings Shape Our Lives Siblings Without Rivalry: 5 Steps How to Help the Older Child When the Baby Arrives (Siblings Without Rivalry, Sibling Rivalry, Peaceful Parenting, Positive Parenting, Parenting.) Loving Each One Best: A Caring and Practical Approach to Raising Siblings Sibling Relationships: Theory and Issues for Practice When Baby Becomes Big Sibling: Thriving Through The Transitions That Come When Adding Another Baby To Your Family

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Comparisons Cause Children to Lose Respect for Their Unique Abilities

We are all born with different gifts and abilities. Comparisons make an individual feel that their specific gifts are worthless, and that they should abandon those gifts in favor of pursuing someone else’s glory. Resist the temptation to compare your child to someone else, and you will give them the ability to feel the self-confidence of being proud of the things they have achieved.

Comparisons Cause a Rift in the Parent-Child Relationship

Imagine working for a boss who constantly criticized you and spoke highly of your co-worker. Imagine if he (or she) consistently cut you down and wished out loud that you would be more like your colleague. You’d probably label him a tyrant, or worse, and would want to quit your job as soon as possible.

Now imagine if you couldn’t quit, and you were forced to work for him for a lifetime. The feeling you would have is how your child feels when you compare them in a negative way to other children. Don’t put a devastating rift in your relationship by comparing your child with others.

Comparisons Cause Internal Stress

In the world we live in today, stress is present in unlimited quantities. There is far too much of it around and yet at times we create more through our actions. Comparing your child will put a burden of stress on him (or her) that he was not made to handle, as he figures out that he can never achieve worthiness in your eyes. Cut out the comparisons and you will relieve your child of this unnecessary problem.

Comparing children is never a good idea.

There are many positive ways to motivate your children, and comparing them to someone else is not one of those ways. Stop comparing, and cut this completely from your child’s life so he is free to build healthy relationships with you, with his siblings, and with himself.

This is a gift that will last him a lifetime.

When parents compare their children, they're only adding to the potential for sibling rivalry. Nip that in the bud and stop comparing your children.

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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home
Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.

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