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DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a very inquisitive and talkative 8-year-old son. I am always impressed by the questions he comes up with and his eagerness to learn.
I try to feed his desire to learn new things by giving him books to read and finding new places for us to visit.
He has older teenage siblings who often find these activities boring.
How can I bridge the gap between my 8-year-old and his older siblings, who are not interested in the same things?
DEAR SIBLING COLLECTIVE: Think of incentives that your teenagers might appreciate, and offer them if they promise to spend a certain amount of time with your younger son.
Teenagers are often obsessed with the details of their evolving lives and don’t even notice their younger siblings. Presenting a desirable outcome to them in exchange for positive quality time with your younger child may work.
If your older children are not naturally inclined to participate in the activities that fascinate the baby of your family, your incentives will only work for so long. Look more closely at each of your older children. Notice if there is one thing that each might be willing to offer to the 8-year-old. Encourage that and see what happens.
Even more, you may need to create play dates and other engagements with your younger boy’s peers.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/03/04/harriette-cole-how-can-i-involve-my-teens-in-their-little-brothers-interests/
I try to feed his desire to learn new things by giving him books to read and finding new places for us to visit.
He has older teenage siblings who often find these activities boring.
How can I bridge the gap between my 8-year-old and his older siblings, who are not interested in the same things?
DEAR SIBLING COLLECTIVE: Think of incentives that your teenagers might appreciate, and offer them if they promise to spend a certain amount of time with your younger son.
Teenagers are often obsessed with the details of their evolving lives and don’t even notice their younger siblings. Presenting a desirable outcome to them in exchange for positive quality time with your younger child may work.
If your older children are not naturally inclined to participate in the activities that fascinate the baby of your family, your incentives will only work for so long. Look more closely at each of your older children. Notice if there is one thing that each might be willing to offer to the 8-year-old. Encourage that and see what happens.
Even more, you may need to create play dates and other engagements with your younger boy’s peers.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/03/04/harriette-cole-how-can-i-involve-my-teens-in-their-little-brothers-interests/