Sibling Bond

Siblings usually stay by each other’s side the longest throughout life. They grow up together, experience many formative situations together, and share a common history. Along with their parents, brothers and sisters are among the first important attachment figures. Through their relationships with their siblings, children experience support and closeness; they learn to cope with conflicts and to reconcile after arguments. From an early age, they learn how relationships grow and change. Often, a deep emotional bond develops that will last a lifetime.

In this article, you’ll learn more about sibling bonds and what parents can do to foster positive sibling relationships.

A strong sibling bond can empower children in many ways. Siblings provide each other with support in difficult situations and emotional security. In this way, in addition to their relationship with their parents, they experience a sense of belonging and connection to another person from an early age. This reliable relationship—which is often perceived as “unbreakable”—gives them a sense of security, boosts their self-confidence, and helps them cope better with stress.

The bond between siblings grows through many small moments in everyday life: playing and laughing together, offering each other comfort and support, sharing experiences, and the feeling of “belonging together as a family.”  

Every sibling relationship is different and isn’t always equally strong at every stage of life. It changes over the course of a lifetime. Most siblings are very close during childhood, while during adolescence, the need for independence often increases. As they get older, the bond with siblings often becomes stronger again.

How the relationship between siblings develops depends on an interplay of various factors. Research frequently highlights the following connections:

Parents can play a big role in fostering a positive sibling bond by seeing and valuing each child for who they are. You should avoid showing favoritism and making comparisons. 

Children are sensitive to unfair treatment by their parents. This can strain the relationship between siblings. However, the key here is not that all siblings—regardless of age and needs—are always treated exactly the same, but rather that each child receives what they need at that moment. When children experience that their parents are making an effort to make good and appropriate decisions for each child, this can reduce feelings of competition, arguments, and jealousy among siblings. 

A close bond cannot be forced—but it can grow when children feel seen. As parents, you can contribute to sibling bonding in various ways at different stages:

Not every sibling relationship is close from the start. Sometimes the bond develops later—for example, as children get older and discover shared interests, during specific life situations, or when roles within the family change. Phases of distance are also normal. The sibling bond is a process that continues to evolve throughout life.