Sibling Teasing & the Effects on a Child

Social Skills

• Parents who are often away from home can fail to detect instances of sibling teasing in their kids. If unmanaged, sibling teasing can develop into an intense rivalry, creating hostile feelings among your children. The victimized children start to experience mood swings and may exhibit irritability or temper tantrums. Such traits alter their social development because their social skills are affected negatively. Writing in a 2011 article published at Solutionsforchildproblems.com, child psychologist Dianne S. O'Connor advises parents to use incidents of sibling teasing to nurture their conflict-resolution skills. Teach them how to handle negative feelings and appreciate the views of others.

Mental Health Disorders

• Children who are teased or bullied by their siblings are at risk for mental health problems. According to a 2013 study report published in the journal "JAMA Psychiatry," researchers at the American Medical Association established that victims of bullying have a higher prevalence of young adult psychiatric problems, such as panic disorder and anxiety. The measures you take to end sibling teasing should be helpful to all your children. Don't be partial when trying to solve their issues, although each child will try to get you on his or her side. Educate them about the mental health problems related to sibling teasing and set limits for aggressive behavior.

Self-Esteem

• The teasers know what makes their victim feel ashamed. For instance, if he has a communication disability, the teasers can imitate how he talks, lowering his self-confidence. While bullies see themselves in a positive light and may exhibit inflated views of themselves, the victims are more likely to have low self-esteem, asserts a 2013 article at Education.com. Explain to your children the need to build and maintain cooperative and positive relationships. Help the teasers understand bullying their siblings because of their disabilities is unacceptable and warrants punishment.

Academic Achievement

• Sibling teasing can affect the academic performance of the affected child. For example, kids who perform well in school can taunt their siblings who score lower grades. The teased child can feel disadvantaged and lose his determination to improve his grades, exhibiting poor concentration levels in class or refusing to attend school. Encourage the affected child to work harder to reach his learning potential, or enroll him in a special school that can nurture what he is good at, like sports or art. Treat your kids equally and monitor them closely to detect and stop instances of teasing. In a 2013 article published in "The New York Times," clinical psychologist John V. Caffaro notes that the effects of sibling teasing can continue into adulthood if not addressed. Caffaro, author of "Sibling Abuse Trauma," has treated patients who struggled with emotional issues because of humiliation they experienced at the hands of a sibling.