If your day starts with something like, “Mum, help - he won’t get out of my room”, chances are you’ve got a couple of children who sometimes find it hard to get along. As seen on the show, the Shared Chore Technique aims to discourage sibling rivalry by showing the kids they can get along together (sometimes!).

The Shared Chore Technique

Like the Shared Play Technique, the aim here is to discourage sibling rivalry by encouraging children to work as a team with their brothers and sisters. In completing a joint chore without squabbling or fighting, they are learning to communicate on another level. You’re also giving your children some responsibility within the household, and you get to check one more chore off your list!

 
Getting brothers and sisters to work together

• Choose an activity which can accommodate all your children, like washing the car or cleaning out the fish tank.
• Give each of the children an area to clean (like car windows for older children and wheels for the little ones) or a duty to perform (one child cleans the fish tank whilst the other rinses the plants and stones). Praise them when they work together to get the job done.
• Supervise their work and make sure all the children are taking part and taking turns.
• Once they’re finished and packed up, do something as a family, praising them when they keep up the good behaviour.