These fun, bonding games help squash sibling rivalry, according to child psychologists
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Sibling rivalry can be tough for parents to navigate. After all, some level of rivalry is natural and you can't just order your kids not to compete with each other. But child psychologists say there are some things you can do to minimize it in your household, including using board games.
In general, it's important for families to "promote unity and fairness" with their children, Mayra Mendez, a licensed psychotherapist and program coordinator for intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health services at Providence Saint John's Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Life. In the case of board games, she says it's a good idea to "accentuate everybody's personal strength" to help eliminate rivalry while having fun playing together.
"Through games, kids learn to play and figure things out," she says.
Dr. Robert Keder, a pediatrician who specializes in developmental behavior at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life that games—especially board games—are "great overall because they can teach important life skills, like learning to wait your turn, coping with not winning all the time, learning instructions and learning how to follow them."
Games can also be "a great opportunity to teach kids to have fun with the process and good for bonding," Keder says. And, he adds, "it can teach them that they don't have to be competitive with each other."
Mendez says that "any game can work" to help squash sibling rivalry, but some of the best options are ones that are "more about strategy and creativity." Cooperative games, where players work toward a common goal, are also helpful, Keder says.
Struggling with sibling rivalry in your household? Child psychologists recommend trying these games:
Space Escape: Mole Rats in Space
With this game — designed for kids 7 and up — players try to get mole rats out of their space station after a band of snakes infiltrates it. The players have to work together against the clock to get the mole rats to their escape pod in time. "This is a great cooperative game," Keder says.
Pictionary
"Games that make people laugh" like Pictionary can be great for combating sibling rivalry, Mendez says. In case you're not familiar with it, the game involves working in teams to try to draw clues for your teammate to guess a particular word or phrase. Mendez says you can do teams like parents vs. kids to encourage your kids to work together toward a common goal.
Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island has players join a team of fearless adventurers on a mission to capture four sacred treasures from ruins of a paradise location. Keder calls this game "one of my favorites for older children," noting that "you're all playing together." The game is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Twister
Physical games also tend to be a hit with kids, Mendez says. A game like Twister, where kids try to stay upright while playing their hands and feet on designated circles, is usually a winner. "They're playing, moving around and laughing together—that's great," Mendez says.
Spaceteam
Spaceteam bills itself as a 'chaotic' game, and it delivers. It's fast-paced, and everyone either wins or loses as you work together to try to fix your spaceship. The game only takes five minutes, making it good for those with shorter attention spans. "It's pure chaos and hilariousness, but it offers opportunities for bonding," Keder says.
Anomia Kids
Anomia is super simple to play: Draw a card and flip it over for everyone to see. If the symbol matches what another player has, shout a word that starts with the same sound as the image on your opponent's card. "It's a fun, silly game," Keder says. "Everyone's shouting...you can play for hours."
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