How to Keep Your Child Safe from an Abusive Sibling

Reports state 53 out of 100 children abuse a brother or sister. Sibling abuse is more common than child abuse or spousal abuse. Signs of a potential abusive child include isolation, aggression, sleep disorder, eating habits, changes in behavior, and overly aggressive when playing with other siblings. Teach your child at an early age how to express themselves. When your child is feeling depressed, angry, or sad, let your child express feelings instead of condemning the child that it's wrong.

Some children are born with disabilities including downs syndrome, autism, mentally challenged and hormone imbalances. Children who are born with disabilities often have issues with aggression and anger. Not all children with disabilities have issues with aggression or anger. When a mother has to protect her child from another one of her children it can be overwhelming.

Supervised the children when interacting together. When a child is overly aggressive with other siblings correct the child immediately.

Call the child away from other siblings. Explain to the child why his or her actions are being addressed. Allow your child to express their feelings. Work through problems with the abusive child and come up with alternatives for negative behavior.

Allow your child to sleep in your bedroom at bedtime to ensure the safety of your child from the abusive child. Keep your bedroom door locked. Abusive children will find ways to continue the abuse even entering a siblings bedroom when sleeping.

Set rules and have appropriate consequences for negative behavior. This will let the child understand that their actions are not acceptable.

Spend the same amount of time with each child. Make sure you let your child know everything is equal. A child who is aggressive and abusive may need more time. Make time for one on one time with each child to make them all feel special.

Seek advice from a psychologist if there is no progress in the methods you have tried. Psychologist are highly educated and experienced when dealing with abusive children.

Parents who have an abusive child are often told to lock the abusive child in his or her room to keep the child from abusing another sibling during sleep. This is a misconception, putting a lock on the outside of your child's bedroom door is dangerous. A fire may occur only leaving the child to escape through the window. When a fire starts at the window, the child will not be able to escape.

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