How To Encourage Siblings to Attend Each Other's Events

In her new book "Tending the Family Heart," Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker lists a few easy ways to encourage siblings to attend each other's sports games, dance recitals, and other extracurricular activities.

Start young, and do it often.

Things become routine when they are done routinely. Like most things, children accept that they will, of course, attend each other's events when it's been a matter of course from the first time one of them hit a ball, got on skates, or was a tulip in the kindergarten play.

Prep the audience.

Kids (and adults, for that matter) are much more interested in something when they know what is going on. Talk about what the game is about before you go, while you are there, after it's over. Help them know what to watch for. Talk with the star of the day about what he or she most hopes will happen and how you can all help.

Bring stuff.

Just as their attention span for all things except Super Mario is short, young kids' ability to sustain interest at events is limited. If you come prepared, they will be able to take a break intermittently and you won't end up angry at them for being fidgety.

Bring a tote bag packed with coloring books, paper, markers and crayons, a few picture books, a Frisbee, granola bars, and boxes of juice to every game. Try to be sensitive to ages and stages in expectations for good bleacher behavior. When siblings are up at bat, on the ice, or sent into the game, get the rest of the family involved in cheering them on. When there are time-outs, halftimes, or long waiting times, pull out the stuff. As the kids get older, they can be expected to be attentive for longer and longer parts of the games and events.