The question
How do I deal with my four-year-old son, who goes to kindergarten and constantly torments his sister (she's two)?
He might keep this up all day in different ways. He frightens her a lot — not a toy or a story is left in the house that he hasn't used to scare her, until she cries. Yet at home we don't treat him this way.
But for a while now he hasn't left his sister alone.
I've spoken to him a lot. I've punished him by withholding things he likes. But he doesn't stop.
Your counsel, may Allah bless you.
Our answer
May Allah make him grow as good growth and delight your eyes with his uprightness.
Mind the behaviours that come from jealousy in him: occupy him with activities suited to him, and let him share them with his sister.
Discuss the matter with him in a way that suits his nature. Make sure that at the kindergarten your son isn't being subjected to this himself, which would make him angry and then copy the same behaviour with your daughter because she stirs his jealousy.
The feeling of jealousy is natural. What's more important is that you correct it: ask him calmly, why do you do this with your sister? After his answer, show him that this is not praiseworthy behaviour but blameworthy.
Make him feel a sense of responsibility toward his sister. Contribute to creating happy moments that bring them together, which increases the affection between them and gradually removes the feeling of jealousy.
Overlook his repetition of the behaviour and turn to some task that makes him feel you don't care.
Don't compare him to her often, or make him feel she is better than him — this feeds his jealousy and leaves him with resentment of his sister.
May Allah bless you in both of them.
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