Parenting Perspective 

Siblings often fall into competition, whether for praise, speed, or attention. Parents can reduce rivalry by creating paired tasks where each child’s role is different yet equally valuable. Instead of racing against one another, they learn to succeed together. 

Assign Complementary Roles 

Choose tasks that rely on cooperation: 

• One sets the table, the other brings water. 

• One gathers laundry, the other folds small items. 

• One holds the dustpan, the other sweeps. 

This way, each child depends on the other for completion. 

Rotate Roles Regularly 

Switching responsibilities weekly ensures no child feels stuck with the “less important” job. Fairness and variety help both feel equally valued. 

Celebrate Joint Effort 

At the end, say: “Look how well you worked together; dinner is ready because of both of you.” This shifts focus from who did better to what they achieved together. 

Model Partnership 

Show siblings that adults also divide and share tasks: “I will wash, you dry.” Children are more likely to mirror cooperative behaviour when they see it modelled daily. 

When framed this way, paired tasks build empathy, teamwork, and pride in shared achievement, reducing rivalry and strengthening bonds. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam encourages unity, cooperation, and supporting one another in goodness. Sibling tasks that highlight teamwork reflect these values and prepare children to live as compassionate, helpful members of family and community. 

Guidance from the Noble Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Maidah (5), Verses 2: 

‘…And participate with each other to promote righteousness and piety, and do not collaborate in the committal of any sin or moral transgression…’ 

This reminds us that true strength lies in helping one another in goodness, not competing in harmful ways. 

Teaching from the Hadith 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2586, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The believers, in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy, are just like one body. When one part suffers, the whole body responds with wakefulness and fever.’ 

This teaches us that healthy bonds are built on shared care and mutual support, not rivalry. 

By creating cooperative task pairs, you teach siblings that love grows through teamwork. They learn that their value is not in being “better” than the other but in building together, a reflection of the unity Allah Almighty loves.