Parenting Perspective 

Competition, when healthy, can motivate children to achieve their best. However, if not managed carefully, it can create divisions between siblings, leading them to view each other as rivals rather than allies. Once a sense of competition has taken root, the first step in rebuilding teamwork is to address the underlying feelings of rivalry. Children need to feel safe in their relationships and know that their bond is more important than individual success. 

Rebuilding Trust After Competition 

The most effective way to rebuild trust is through routines that encourage cooperation rather than comparison. When children work together towards a common goal, they learn to value each other’s strengths and support one another. This shifts the dynamic from rivalry to partnership, fostering a sense of unity and mutual respect. 

Routines to Promote Teamwork 

Here are some routines that can help promote teamwork: 

• Foster Joint Projects: Create opportunities for siblings to work together on projects that require collaboration, such as preparing dinner together or creating a family art project. 

• Praise Collaborative Efforts: Whenever your children demonstrate cooperative behaviour, make sure to acknowledge it. Compliment them on their ability to work as a team, such as, ‘I am so proud of how well you two worked together to finish that task.’ 

• Establish Shared Responsibilities: Assigning joint responsibilities, such as taking care of a pet or planning a family outing, helps siblings work together and feel a sense of shared ownership. 

• Create Rituals for Connection: Design routines or traditions that require mutual cooperation, such as a weekly family game night or planning weekend activities together. 

• Model Teamwork: Children learn by observing. As a parent, take every opportunity to demonstrate teamwork in your own actions. 

Long-Term Rewards of Teamwork 

By embedding teamwork into your daily routines, you are teaching your children valuable life skills that will extend far beyond the family home. Learning how to work collaboratively, share success, and support each other emotionally builds resilience, trust, and cooperation. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quranic Perspective on Unity and Cooperation 

The noble Quran emphasizes the importance of unity. In a family setting, it teaches that when siblings work together, they create a stronger bond, uniting not only themselves but also their collective purpose. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 103: 

‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah (Almighty) collectively and do not be divided…’ 

Encouraging them to support one another mirrors the greater unity that Allah Almighty calls for in all aspects of life. 

The Prophet’s Wisdom on Brotherhood and Mutual Support 

The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ beautifully encapsulate the essence of sibling relationships: the desire for mutual support and success. By fostering an environment where siblings help and encourage each other, you are teaching them the essence of true brotherhood. 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 5017, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’ 

This strengthens the fabric of their relationship and builds a foundation of mutual respect.