The Power of Sibling Bonds

Growing up with a sibling means forever having a built-in best friend who helps make navigating the younger years, the teen years, and even the adult years a little easier. This relationship proves to be especially essential during the teen years, when experiencing breakups, bullies, friendship struggles, and life transitions are common. However, nurturing the sibling relationship doesn’t always happen, causing many to miss out on the many benefits of having a sibling during the teen years in the first place.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

A sibling relationship can be one of the longest relationships a teen experiences, and they’re one of the most important. 

Dr. Shawn Sidhu, a psychiatrist with a specialty in behavioral health, shares that a child may be more likely to confide in a sibling than a parent and may seek a sibling’s support in time of need. Dr. Sidhu says, “This piece is critical, because we know that one of the biggest risk factors for developing youth is suffering in isolation. The ability for young people to express their feelings to anyone—sibling, parent, or friend—can be highly therapeutic and can prevent a worsening of depressed mood or anxiety.”

Establishing this relationship is crucial in helping provide an outlet to these growing teens, and they also provide an assortment of other benefits in terms of emotional support, shared experiences, and more practical support, such as—remember when you had to take Geometry?

THE VALUE OF SIBLING BONDS

Providing emotional support.

Whether navigating through breakups, broken friendships, grief, or even stress or anxiety, having a sibling through it all can be beneficial. They are there to offer a listening ear, provide insight and wisdom, and help introduce healthy coping mechanisms—and a sibling can see the full picture unlike anyone else.

Clinical psychologist Laurie Kramer, PhD, says, “Siblings often have a better sense of what you’re experiencing with peers or with parts of your world that parents don’t have access to or don’t see in the same way. That shared perspective is one of the facets that makes sibling relationships so valuable for child development.”

Sharing experiences.

When a teen is navigating through his or her parents’ divorce, family financial struggles, or caring for aging parents, having a sibling to share the experience with can help make these situations easier and strengthen the sibling bond.

For instance, a study titled Quality of Sibling Relationship and Age Spacing in Single-Parent Families discusses how divorce can affect sibling relationships, noting that siblings may experience either increased conflict or greater closeness during and after such transitions.

Offering practical assistance.

For younger siblings, having an older sibling to turn to for guidance can be invaluable in many situations. Whether it’s getting help with homework, navigating the job search process, or practicing a presentation before the big day, siblings often offer the support and reassurance needed to tackle these challenges with confidence.

FOSTERING STRONGER SIBLING BONDS

While the benefits of sibling relationships are clear, nurturing these relationships requires action and care, especially during the teens years where busy schedules and commitments can keep them apart. Here are a few ways parents can help foster stronger sibling relationships.

Encourage cooperation, not competition. Sibling rivalry can often occur, but encouraging them to work together on tasks or projects can help promote unity. Dr. Sidhu shares that this will also “promote self-esteem and prevent wedges from being formed between siblings.”

Create family traditions. Time together is essential. By spending time together, they’re able to create memories and experience new things. Make them consistent so the bond can continue to be nurtured and be something they look forward to.

Model good communication. Show them how to communicate with each other. Demonstrate how to express feelings and resolve conflicts, should they arise.

There’s a reason siblings are honored on National Sibling Day. They’re amazing friends, empathetic listeners, and unwavering supporters through the ups and downs of the teen years and beyond. To truly experience the full benefits of this unique bond, it’s important to nurture it from the start.