Do your kids fight more when they spend more time together?

[JumpyTheFrog]

My boys are 10 and 7 and seem to treat each other much better when they have less free time to play together. Does this happen to anyone else?

[kewb]

Mine are 18 and 15 and they can still fight all the time.  I found that unplugging them for a few days tended to reset their tendency towards fighting.

[Arcadia]

Yes :lol: absence makes the heart grow fonder :)

[Joker]

My dds were like that at those ages. Now they are 13 and 16 and actually really like each other so they choose to be together.

[ScoutTN]

Mine are similar ages 10 and 8, and it cycles. They play great together most of the time, but we have patches when they fuss and fight. 

Ds is an extrovert and Dd needs some time alone and doesn't play tackle so they inevitably conflict at times, especially when they are tired.

 

I start making them go to bed a bit earlier and maintain some afternoon quiet time when it gets yucky. A day away, playing with a friend also helps.

[mamiof5]

Not necessarily. But, I do notice they are more snappy and irritable towards each other if they are tired/busy/we have too much going on. So...more fighting calls for earlier bed time

[SparklyUnicorn]

No but they do fight.  They are together a lot.  Most of the time it is minor spats.  Usually the younger one annoys the older one. 

[gardenmom5]

no- didn't make much difference.  except for 2ds until he reached a certain stage of maturity. 

[lllll]

nm

Edited April 20, 2016 by _ ?^..

[Peaceful Isle]

Yup, they enjoy each other more, the less they are around each other.

[UCF612]

Mine are together tons. They get along swimmingly 89% of the time. Most issues result from my oldest either being bossy or wanting to read instead of play. They are 8 and 6.

[Amy in NH]

My kids fight more when they have too much unstructured time.

[SKL]

My kids are almost always together.  Literally.  Right now they are sleeping together, by choice.  :)

 

They are most likely to fight if there is a feeling of competing for adults' attention or approval.  When they are alone together, they rarely fight and when they do, they negotiate their way back to peace.

[foxbridgeacademy]

When they were 10 and 8 they would fuss sometimes because they both wanted to have things their way when they played pretend.  They get along great now the more time they spend together (playing Dungeons and Dragons which is just the big kid version of pretend, IMO). I think it really helps that they have some interests in common but also have some of their own that sibling isn't involved with.

[Julie Smith]

My kids are almost always together.  Literally.  Right now they are sleeping together, by choice.  :)

 

They are most likely to fight if there is a feeling of competing for adults' attention or approval.  When they are alone together, they rarely fight and when they do, they negotiate their way back to peace.

 

Mine are similar. They are also always together. They don't like being apart. They don't fight. 

[Ravin]

Mine get along better when they are not competing for adult attention, much like SKL said. Also, they get along better when neither is having to compete with a third party for the other's attention--such as a neighborhood friend. With the 7 year age gap this is not as great a problem as it could be.

[rocassie]

Mine play together great in the morning, but the afternoon can see them butting heads a lot.  Generally they just need a little space from each other.  For us about an hour of quiet time/ time apart seems to reset their moods and willing to cooperate with one another.  The best fix is to go play outside but the weather isn't always cooperative.  They can seemingly play outside together great with minimal fighting or they each get involved doing their own thing outside.