Many children benefit from having close personal relationships with their siblings and develop life long bonds to each other because, essentially, these are some of the first friendships they form. For young children who do not attend a public preschool or daycare, siblings can be the first and only people their own age that they interact with on a regular basis. They become friends, but also older siblings become role models, and in some way's cautionary tales to their younger siblings. Younger siblings, in turn, can often provide older siblings with their first experience of feelings of protectiveness or jealousy. Through the magic of books, siblings can learn helpful ways to communicate with one another, creating lifelong bonds that can be unbreakable.
Here is a resource for more information on the importance of sibling relationships. https://advokids.org/childhood-mental-health/the-sibling-bond/
Activities in play can help foster the sibling bond, as well as encourage social and cognitive development. Learning the best ways to encourage play between siblings can be a challenge for both caregivers and parents. For many children, their siblings are their first introduction to group play and socialization. The social interactions of young children teach them many benefits of communication including asking questions, seeking answers, working together, problem solving, conflict resolution, and partnership.
Here is a resource for fun sibling play activities.
Siblings can bond over a love of shared literature by enjoying the same works of literature, sharing new works with one another, and even debating the content of books. Though they will most likely not agree on every book and its contents, those disagreements can help establish a communication rapport where each child has the opportunity to learn how to listen, as well as enjoy the benefits of being heard.
Here is a resource for sibling literature related topics and activities.
Book Recommendations:
The following book recommendations include books that encourage sibling play and relationships in children, as well as books that show sibling relationships and dynamics.
Each book is listed with the author, title, an image of the book cover, topics covered in the book, a quick summary, and the target reading audience age.
Poinsettia and her Family, by Felecia Bond
Topics: Siblings and Independence.
Ages 3 and up.
Summary: Poinsettia the pig thinks the house she lives in would be perfect without her six noisy, messy, always-in-the-way brothers and sisters—until they do leave
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, by Patricia Polacco
Topics: Sibling Rivalry and Conflict Resolution.
Ages 5 and up.
Summary: Patricia's brother seems to be better than her at every activity imaginable. As she works to pull herself out of her brothers shadow and into the light, she finds a connection to a brother she never thought she could.
Magic Tree House Books Series, by Mary Pope Osbourn
Topics: Sibling Bonds, Communication, Play and Adventure.
Ages 6 and up.
Summary: A young brother and sister find out their tree house is a magical time machine. Each book chronicles an adventure they have journeying to a historical past event.
Caterpillar Summer, by Gillian McDunn
Topics: Sibling Dependency, Family Dynamics, Independence.
Ages 10 and up.
Family tragedy has left Cat the sole caregiver to her younger, special needs brother. The siblings travel to their grandparents home where Cat learns that no longer caring for her brother is not the independent life she thought she wanted.
The Mighty Miss Malone, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Topics: Family Dynamics, Brother/Sister Dynamics, Racial and Societal Class Concerns, The Great Depression
Ages 12 and up.
Summary: Deza and her family are hit hard by The Great Depression and the struggles of race and class issues in their small town cause a struggle in their family dynamic. Deza learns independence as she struggles to no longer rely on her family and comes into her own as a person.
The Caraval Series, by Stephanie Garber
Topics: Adventure, Romance, Sibling Reliance, Sibling Rivalry, Trust
Ages 15 and up.
Summary: Two sisters must win the game of Caraval to escape their lives with an abusive father. They try to work together but struggle with choosing the same path to reach their goals. Their fighting leads to conflict resolution and a stronger bond as sisters.
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now, by Dana L. Davis
Topics: Sibling Bonds, Independence, Coming of Age, Step-Siblings, Death, Cancer
Ages 16 and up.
Summary: Tiffany lost her mother to cancer and must now move in with her biological father, whom she has never met. She struggles to accept the loss of her mother and to make connections with her father and his four daughters. Tiffany finds herself as she explores the aspect of her new life and new family dynamics.