Rebecca and Belann dive into the complexities of sibling dynamics, especially the everyday challenges parents face around bedtime routines, discipline, and perceived fairness. Drawing on real-life examples and practical strategies, they explore how parents can respond with consistency, calmness, and clarity while strengthening sibling relationships. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the impact of parental presence, preparation, and communication on children’s behavior and emotional security.

Covered in this episode:

• Bedtime has been a total circus lately! One will be going to brush his teeth and then the younger one will decide to do a nudy run and then the older who was originally on task, will follow. They are starting to figure out they can team up against us!

• My younger sibling weaponizes being the youngest! She screams, gets away with things and I am often at a loss of how to discipline.

• You never get Rosie in trouble, she’s your favorite-if I did that I would have been in so much trouble-why doesn’t she have a consequence?

This episode offers thoughtful insights and actionable tools for parents navigating the emotional and logistical challenges of raising siblings.

Connect with us:

Website: earlychildhoodmatters.com/podcast

Instagram: @EarlyChildhoodMattersSF
Facebook facebook.com/ecmsf

Got a question for a future episode? List it in the comments, comment on our web site, or email info@earlychildhoodmatters.org. We’d love to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Please follow or subscribe wherever you listen.
  
  
• Leave us a rating or review—it really helps other parents find the show
  
  

Share this episode with a friend or parent group! It’s by word of mouth that our small business grows best!

• (00:00:00) - Parenting Matters: Real Talk From Kids to Teens
• (00:01:12) - Sibling Questions
• (00:01:46) - How To Have Different Bedtimes For Your Child
• (00:06:16) - How to Deal with an Overwhelmment by Kids
• (00:10:31) - The Power of Remarks
• (00:12:29) - Bedtime strategies
• (00:14:23) - How to Discipline the Younger Sibling (
• (00:20:06) - You're Worth Your Time
• (00:22:24) - Sibling Question: Why Doesn't My Daughter Get In Trouble?
• (00:26:47) - How to Talk to Your Child About Bad Behavior
• (00:28:02) - How to Build Up a Troublesome Child
• (00:33:28) - Parenting Matters

Short Overview:

Rebecca explores the beautiful (and sometimes jarring) contrast between Thanksgiving gratitude and the consumer rush of Black Friday and the holiday season. She reflects on how to nurture a spirit of thankfulness in young children, shares her family’s long-loved gratitude traditions, and offers gentle ways to shift the holiday focus from buying to truly being together.

If you’re looking for a heart-forward, calmer holiday season and a thoughtful gift guide, this episode will leave you inspired, grounded, and ready to create magic that lasts far beyond Christmas morning.

Rebecca also breaks down her early childhood teacher approved approach to gift giving — including the play-based curriculum framework she uses to choose toys that last, spark creativity, and discourage materialism. From blocks and dramatic play to arts, outdoor toys, sensory materials, books, music, and experiences, she highlights meaningful gift ideas that grow with children rather than overwhelm them.

Check out our 'ECM Approved' holiday gift guide here.

Full transcript here.

Connect with us:

Website: earlychildhoodmatters.com/podcast

Instagram: @EarlyChildhoodMattersSF
Facebook facebook.com/ecmsf

Got a question for a future episode? List it in the comments, comment on our web site, or email info@earlychildhoodmatters.org. We’d love to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Please follow or subscribe wherever you listen.
  
  
• Leave us a rating or review—it really helps other parents find the show
  
  

Share this episode with a friend or parent group! It’s by word of mouth that our small business grows best!

Episode 10: Sibling Rivalry — Rethinking Fairness at Home

In this episode, Rebecca and Belann unpack the roots of sibling rivalry and explore why striving for perfect fairness can sometimes make things worse. Learn how to help your kids navigate feelings of unfairness, celebrate their differences, and build stronger, more understanding relationships with each other.

They answer the questions:

• What is the role of the concept of fairness in sibling rivalry and how does it impact children?

• Why might striving for fairness (in the sense of equality) actually exacerbate conflict between siblings?

• How can parents help children understand and accept differences between siblings, instead of consistently treating everything as “fair”?

• How can parents support children in navigating feelings of unfairness—rather than simply trying to make everything equal?

To view the equity/equality image Rebeca mentions, please visit our site: https://www.earlychildhoodmatters.org/podcast

Connect with us:

Website: earlychildhoodmatters.com/podcast

Instagram: @EarlyChildhoodMattersSF
Facebook facebook.com/ecmsf

Got a question for a future episode? List it in the comments, comment on our web site, or email info@earlychildhoodmatters.org. We’d love to hear from you!

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Please follow or subscribe wherever you listen.
  
  
• Leave us a rating or review—it really helps other parents find the show
  
  

Share this episode with a friend or parent group! It’s by word of mouth that our small business grows best!

• (00:00:00) - Parenting Matters
• (00:01:03) - How to Prevent sibling conflict
• (00:04:09) - Setting the Tone for a Family
• (00:07:49) - Parents Get Involved in Children's Fights
• (00:08:17) - Always Want Everything to Be Fair
• (00:13:15) - The Right to a Deficit
• (00:13:51) - Fighting in the Family
• (00:18:36) - The Problem-Solving Approach to Children
• (00:21:58) - How To Bridge The Gap Between My Younger Child and My Older Son
• (00:27:11) - How To Have A Good Night's Sleep
• (00:27:51) - Parenting Matters