What helps when my child interrupts every time a sibling is praised? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be disheartening when you are celebrating one child’s good deed and another jumps in to interrupt or demand equal praise. Beneath this reaction, however, there is often a deeper emotional truth. Children who interrupt praise are not being spiteful; they are feeling overlooked. They hear your appreciation for their sibling and worry that their own worth has faded in comparison. Your task is not to silence them, but to gently teach them that another’s moment of recognition does not erase their own value. 

Recognise the Need Beneath the Behaviour 

When your child interrupts a moment of praise, pause and look past the behaviour. A simple, empathetic response can be, ‘I know you would like to hear something nice about you, too. I will come to you in a moment.’ This helps them feel seen without rewarding the interruption. The goal is to acknowledge their emotional need without letting it dominate the moment. 

Create Moments of Individual Attention 

Children crave the reassurance that they are special in their own right. If praise only ever happens publicly or unpredictably, they will start to chase it. You can prevent this by building in small, personal moments of connection each day, such as a quiet conversation at bedtime or a few minutes of one-to-one play. During those times, you can notice something specific and genuine about their behaviour: ‘I really liked how you helped your brother to tidy up his toys today.’ When praise feels consistent and personal, children no longer feel threatened by the success of others. 

Teach the Art of Celebrating Others 

Empathy is a skill that grows through practice. You can explain gently, ‘When we are happy for someone else, it makes our own heart feel bigger. You will have your turn to be praised, too, but right now we are celebrating your sister.’ You can even make it playful by asking them to think of one kind word they could add when another is being praised. This turns a moment of potential jealousy into one of active participation. 

Model Fair Praise, Not Equal Praise 

Children do not need identical praise, but they do need to feel that you are fair. Avoid making forced comparisons, such as, ‘Your brother did this well, but you are good at that.’ Instead, give praise individually and honestly. If you are highlighting one child’s effort, make sure the others receive your attention later on, not as compensation, but as genuine recognition in their own right. 

Remain Calm and Avoid Over-Explaining 

When interruptions happen, keep your response brief and composed. Long explanations can often fuel the moment. Instead, use calm and confident phrases like, ‘It is your brother’s turn to be appreciated right now,’ or ‘We can be happy for others without losing anything ourselves.’ Your composure will teach them emotional regulation far more effectively than a frustrated correction ever could. 

Spiritual Insight 

Jealousy and comparison are natural human feelings, but Islam teaches believers to rise above them through gratitude and humility. A child who interrupts praise is experiencing a small form of envy. Helping them to manage this feeling is a vital part of their moral and spiritual upbringing. The family home becomes the training ground where envy can be transformed into gratitude and love. 

The Quranic Emphasis on Gratitude 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Ibraheem (14), Verse 7: 

‘And (remember) when your Sustainer made this declaration; (saying that): “If you show gratitude, I (Allah Almighty) will indeed, amplify them for you (provisions and sustenance); however, if you become ungrateful, then indeed, My punishment is Meticulous (in execution)”.’ 

This verse reminds us that blessings multiply with gratitude, not with comparison. When you help your child to see the joy in another’s praise, you are teaching them to seek their own increase through thankfulness. 

The Prophetic Call to Love for Others 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 66, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘None of you has believed until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’ 

This hadith teaches that genuine faith is expressed through sincere happiness for the wellbeing of others. Guiding your child to find joy in a sibling’s success helps to build the roots of true iman (faith). They learn that love expands when it is shared, and that Allah Almighty honours those who act with a generosity of heart. 

When you remain calm and fair in these moments, you are modelling emotional maturity, showing your children that love is not divided by praise. Each time you respond with empathy and consistency, your child learns that your affection is constant, and that every member of the family has their own time to shine. Over time, the interruptions will fade, replaced by small words of encouragement and proud smiles. In that shift lies something greater than good manners: the birth of contentment.