Kids Get Along Shirts – Have you heard of these? If you have kids that fight, keep reading – this maybe the creative parenting hack that you’ve been looking for.
Kids Get Along Shirts
The Kids Get Along Shirts were first featured on the Ellen TV show. What a great mom hack! I love when creative parenting creates a little LOL!
Do your kids fight? Our older 2 went through a phase of non-stop fighting. They are now 8-years-old and 10-years-old and most of their fighting thankfully is no longer physical but verbal. The younger 2 kids, our 3-year-old has no problem beating up the baby. The baby, of course is 2-years-old and poor kid will forever be labeled that…
Fortunately my kids fighting isn’t too bad. Sure, there is sibling jealousy that we deal with…. daily. But I think being 1 of 4 kids, you are always just going to have that.
Growing up, my brother and I always fought. It was a non-stop WWE battle between me and the bro until I was 18 and out of the house.
We are now friends and peace has been made, but as a child, regardless of how hard my parents tried to break it up – we would end up back in the ring battling it out. Maybe a Get Along Shirt would of helped us?
Don’t miss our sibling memes!
I have read that this is shaming your child. I’m not here to tell you what you should do or what you shouldn’t do – but to provide possible solutions. As with all things parenting, you state something and someone is bound to have an opinion. If the get long shirt works for you and your family – do it. If you believe that you are shaming your child by doing this, then don’t do this.
Make Your Own Get Along Shirt
Take an old large or extra-large adult shirt and write on it “THIS IS OUR GET ALONG SHIRT” or “MOM MAKES US LOVE EACH OTHER” or “WE WILL BE GOOD OR WE WILL WEAR THIS SHIRT TO SCHOOL” or whatever other creative parenting saying you’d like to put on it.
Make your 2 fighting kids share the shirt. Yes, it’s kind of like making them be siamese twins. They will have to work together to do everything.
Help Getting Kids To Stop Fighting
While I think this is brilliant, there are people who think this isn’t a good idea. I get their point (though my kids are still getting one of these). Here are some ideas on helping getting your kids to stop fighting.
Don’t miss our sibling quotes!
Michelle Duggar’s Parenting Advice
Michelle Duggar, mother of 19 says that she uses the bible to calm her kids. She reference Matthew 18, here it is from the message:
If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he wont listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still wont listen, tell the church. If he wont listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again Gods forgiving love. Matthew 18:15-17
So she focuses on teaching children to talk it out first. Saying with love what the problem is. And if they other child does not listen, then they can go get mom. Using the bible as a parenting hack, hmm.. maybe I should look into that.
I love how calm Michelle Duggar always appears. I know some people have their strong opinions about her, but while I am not down with everything she does (but she is who she is, and good for her for living how she wants to!) – I long for her calm demeanor.
Dr. Laura Markham’s Parenting Advice
Dr. Laura Markham posted on Our Muddy Boots the following ideas on dealing with fighting kids:
1. Listen to both sides so the kids feel heard.
2. Empathize and restate: You’re mad because he knocked down your tower.”
3. Re-state house rules (We don’t hit) but otherwise refrain from playing judge and deciding who’s right.
4. Help each child tell the other how she feels.
5. Help the children brainstorm a mutually agreeable solution.
Read her post at Muddy Boots
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Dr. Jan Hume’s Parenting Advice
Dr. Jan Hume posted on Shalom Mama the following ideas on dealing with fighting kids
Teach the skills you want the kids to learn. Many times; repetition is key.
When you see your child having a conflict with another child where they are gridlocked and not able to come up with solutions, help them.
Guide them to come up with their own ideas. These seemingly unimportant disagreements over Legos and crayons are the perfect opportunities for them to learn conflict resolution skills that they will need for the rest of their lives.
Read her post on Shalom Mama