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Has your younger brother ever wandered into your room and eaten your Halloween candy? Has he ever repeated something bad that he heard you say? Or have you ever yelled at him or hurt him and made him cry, and then he got you in trouble? It is normal for siblings to argue, and many kids are annoyed by their little brother. If you want to get along, you can figure out how to resolve conflict and act respectfully towards him. Get your parents involved if you can't seem to work things out.
Steps
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Think about how you treat your brother throughout the day. Do you push him when you pass him in the hall? Do you lock him out of the bathroom just to annoy him? Do you take his things without asking? It can be easy to pick on a little brother without even thinking about it, especially since he's littler than you and can't really do anything about it. Start noticing how you treat him throughout the day.- In some cases, it can feel like it is your brother's fault that you pick on him. He annoys you, so you pick on him, so he annoys you more-- it's a cycle that won't stop until you try something different.
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Think about how he must be feeling. It can be hard to be a younger brother. He probably thinks you are cool and wants to be with you, but isn't mature enough to play the kind of games you like or hang out with you like your friends do. He might be starting fights or bothering you because he wants attention.- When you imagine how someone else is feeling, it is called empathy. Empathy helps you decide how to act toward someone by imagining how they feel, and then responding with what would feel most helpful or reassuring to you if you were in their place. [1] X Research source
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Treat him how you would like to be treated. You've probably heard this saying, called the "Golden Rule," [2] X Research source and it is a great way to treat your brother. Just because he's your younger brother doesn't mean he doesn't deserve regular respect!- Treat him how you want him to treat you. Don't yell at him, take his things without asking, or tattle on him. He may not treat you the same, but if you're respectful and kind to him, you can't be blamed for him starting a fight.
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Approach him in a kind tone. Never start a conversation screaming. It hurts his feelings when you snap at him, and will make him snap right back. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source- Try saying "Good morning!" in a cheery voice every day. It sets the right tone for the rest of the day.
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Sit him down and have a heart-to-heart talk. If you and your brother have been fighting a lot lately, or if he has been doing things that annoy you, you should have a conversation with him to let him know how you feel.- Make sure that you don't make him cry. Try not to talk down to him in a bossy way, or tell him what to do. Let him participate in the conversation and tell you how he's feeling as well.
- Try using "I-statements" to explain how you feel. Instead of blaming him by saying things like "You are always so nosy and rude!" you might say, "I feel frustrated when you come in my room without knocking. It makes me think you don't respect my privacy." [4] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Apologize for times you have been mean to him. You have probably picked on your brother or yelled at him when he was annoying you. Tell him you are sorry for those times and that you want to have a better friendship with him. [5] X Research source Speak honestly and openly and set your ego aside to give him the most sincere apology.- Try saying, "I'm sorry that I've been mean to you and yelled at you. I don't know why I do that sometimes, but I want to try to be nicer to you."
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Make a list of things you both can change. You both are probably guilty of annoying and being mean to each other. Write down what you wish your brother wouldn't do, and ask him which things he doesn't want you to do.- Keep the list short and focused on the most important things-- try for two or three things each. You might ask him to not interrupt when you have friends over, knock before coming into your room, and not borrow your toys without asking.
- Agree with him that you will both work on not doing the things that annoy each other.
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Stay calm even when he acts immature. [6] X Trustworthy Source Child Mind Institute Nonprofit organization providing evidence-based care for children with mental health and learning disorders and their families Go to source It can be hard to have a serious conversation with a little brother. If he is making rude noises or making faces while you talk, simply stand up and say quietly, 'I tried to talk but...', and walk away.- If he calls you back look at him (without saying anything) and wait until he speaks. When he does, sit down beside him and finish your conversation.
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Listen to every word he says and show that you care what he thinks. When he is done talking, hug him and remind him that you love him, even if you two fight sometimes. -
Know how to react when you two fight. Even if you sit down with your brother and agree to get along better, you will still have some fights in the future. If you think you will start yelling at him say: "I'm not going to fight with you." [7] X Research source- If you do start arguing, let him win sometimes. That can surprise him and cut the fight short. Say, "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm going to go in my room and read for a while."
- If you're really mad at him just walk away and tell him that you don't want to be mean so you want to get away from him. Tell him you don't want it to end with you two fighting.
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Try to play his favorite game with him or read his favorite book. Spending time with your brother doing the things that he likes means he's less likely to bug you for attention when your friends are over or you're trying to do homework. [8] X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.org Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source- Try to schedule regular time together to play, go to the park, or just color pictures together.
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Get your siblings to play together. If you have multiple younger siblings, set them up to play a game with each other. That way, they will be preoccupied with each other instead of you. If they start arguing, politely step in and remind them that they are siblings, not enemies. Play with them for a few minutes until they seem like they are friends again, then go do whatever you were going to do.- You might set up a game of veterinarian with the stuffed animals, or set up a simple board game like Hi Ho Cherry-O or Chutes and Ladders.
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Give him something to do when he is annoying you. If you are trying to do something and he won't stop bothering you, ask him to draw you a picture or color a page for you in a coloring book. Make a big deal out of how much you want him to make you something, and he'll feel special while he makes it.- Be sure to thank him and hang the picture up on the wall in your room, so he knows you really do appreciate it.
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Let your brother know you love him. Make sure you tell him you love him regularly. It might seem cheesy, but he needs to know that you are there for him and care about him.- Try saying "Love you!" in the morning when your brother leaves for school or at night when you go into your rooms to sleep.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy brother is being bullied. What should I do?Community AnswerLet your brother know you are on his side. Give him some good advice about how to deal with the bully when you're not around, like ignoring the bully or asking for a teacher's help. If you see the bully, tell the bully you know what is going on and to leave your brother alone.
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QuestionWhat if your parents are always on his side?Community AnswerMany older siblings feel like their parents always take the younger sibling's side, and it might be true; he's littler and has less experience, so they might feel more protective of him and treat him like a baby. Try not to get mad and yell at him or your parents. Calmly explain the situation and move on. If your parents see you acting nice to your brother all the time, they will be less likely to believe him when he says you did something mean.
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QuestionHow can I make him do his homework without whining?Community AnswerTry promising him that you will play a fun game or go outside with him as soon as he finishes his homework. Then keep your promise and go play together, so next time he will do it again.
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Tips
- If he tries to annoy you, don't lash out at him. Keep in mind he is just trying to get your attention. He probably looks up to you, so try to set an example and control your anger or frustration.Thanks
- If he wants to play outside or play a video game, but you are busy, ask him to set the game up while he waits for you. If you will be awhile, suggest him getting some of his responsibilities taken care of.Thanks
- If you have been in a fight and he is still being grumpy, give him some space for a while so he can have time to cool off.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If you want to get your brother to do something and he doesn't listen to you most of the time, use reverse psychology. For example, if you want him to wash the dishes, you could say, "don't wash the dishes today because I want to test out the dishwasher."
- If you need some space but your brother keeps annoying you, try to do an activity in front of your parents. That way, your brother can't annoy you because your parents are watching.
- If you think you might say something hurtful to your brother, go to your room and take a quick break. Then, come back down and say "no more fighting for the rest of the day."
- If your brother gets super mad and tries to hit you, don't hit him back. That will just make things worse. Go to your parents and tell them what happened.
- If you think you're going to yell at your brother, write down your feelings in a journal or talk to a trusted friend.
- If you're feeling frustrated with your brother, try counting from one to ten to stay calm.
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Warnings
- If you have trouble with him and you don't know what to do, don't try to handle it yourself. Talk to an adult.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/empathy
- ↑ https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/post/sibling-resentment-how-to-deal-with-it-and-how-to-prevent-it-in-the-first-place
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/03/feature-sibling-relationships
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sibling-rivalry
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/apologies.html
- ↑ https://childmind.org/article/siblings-under-stress/
- ↑ https://au.reachout.com/articles/conflict-with-family
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Types-of-Sibling-Relationships.aspx
About This Article
Article Summary
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A younger brother can be tricky to deal with, but by treating him kindly and learning to resolve conflict in a mature way, you two can have a better relationship. Always try to treat your younger brother how you would like to be treated to set a good example. Don’t yell at him, annoy him on purpose, or use his things without asking. When he starts to get annoying, stay as calm as possible. Avoid slamming doors or showing that you feel annoyed because this will only provoke him further. It can also help if you ask your younger brother to do something for you if he’s getting annoying. A distraction such as drawing a picture or writing a story will take your little brother’s mind off provoking you and it will make him feel like he’s doing something special for you. For more tips on dealing with a younger brother, like how to react when you two have a fight, read on.
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Reader Success Stories
- "When I was reading this article, it helped me a lot because now my brother and I are getting along together and we always will talk about how it makes us feel when we yell at each other. So we will tell what we love about each other after the bad fight." ..." more
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"When I was reading this article, it helped me a lot because now my brother and I are getting along together and we always will talk about how it makes us feel when we yell at each other. So we will tell what we love about each other after the bad fight."
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"When I read this article, I didn't think it was going to work, and then when I just got done reading the tips, I tried everything with my brother. Now we get along and we're not fighting anymore, and that's what helped: things in this article made my life so much better."
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"The idea of respect is something I often forget when dealing with my younger brother. I need to put myself in his shoes sometimes. This article reminded me of that and gave lots of great tips, too!"
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"Actually he is my cousin. He was annoying and seriously irritating. I began ignoring him. After a few hours he came and said sorry. That's actually a good change!! Danke!!"
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"It was pretty good! My brother actually listened to me. This really does seem to work on naughty, annoying people! "
