It will neveer stop. lol

Mine are 7 and 5. Same story. They behave like twins.

We are really lucky that older kid is very well behaved, so most of the habits being picked up are good ones. Younger kid is a riot-much more stubbon.

I make sure that older kid is not overshadowed by younger kid's personality. So we work hard to keep things fair. If older kid needs a break, younger kid stays with me/leaves older kid alone.

Doesn’t sound like you are parenting your younger child at all! Just because she can climb on the chair next to her sibling doesn’t mean you have to allow it.

And stop giving your older child food the younger one can’t have.

You’re acting like your older child should be the parent instead of you.

Anonymous wrote:You can't stop this. Every younger sibling imitates - it's how they learn.

This. And it's not just because she sees fewer friends right now; this is how it always is.

She will adore, admire, and emulate him. He will find her, at various times, endearing and annoying/infuriating. That's how it goes.

You can't stop this. Every younger sibling imitates - it's how they learn.

Of course your younger child wants what the older one has! Stop ever expecting that to be different and stop giving the older child things the younger one can’t have in front of the younger one.

Make older child’s room/area off limits to the younger child and be consistent. Younger one will get it after a couple meltdowns.

Correct your older child without regard to him being a bad influence!! Your older child shouldn’t be doing some of the things you listed for his own sake. Correct your younger child the same.

I have a 7 yr old and a 2.5 year old. We had the same bad dynamic as you’re describing until we set firm boundaries.

19 months old DD sees 4.5 year old DS as a learning model (only kid she could see this day during covid) & a competitor. She imitates all good & bad behaviors. She eats almost the same portion as DS, and she wants the same thing by whining when she sees DS is eating or drinking something different from her. DS does not allow her to touch certain things, and she sneaks into his bedroom to climb on bench to turn on electronic keyboard to play music, to open his board games ( turn into a mess). DS closes his bedroom all the time because he knows she does not know how to open door yet. DD loves DS 100%. DS has mixed feeling towards her, most of the time he loves her, but he sometimes pushes her away or yells at her because she annoys him. DD learns to push him away when DS pushes her. Even she is a lot younger, she is quite tough & knows how to fight back or argue back in her own way. DS does not let her to share a seat to watch video at computer desk. It takes her trying for 1 month hopping & climbing around his chair, and now she knows how to climb on another office chair by herself to sit quietly watching DS watching videos. And, if she sees me getting DS a juice box, she will point at it & ask for it with whining. And, sometimes, she is satisfied if DS gives her a sip or two.

My question how long will the younger child stop or continue seeing older sibling as a learning model & a competitor? How to prevent the younger child imitates bad behavior from older sibling, e.g.picky eating habit, pick nose, running in the house etc? I keep reminding DS that DD copies him of those bad behavior, but I think he is not happy to hear that from me all the time. DS sometimes does something bad on purpose or acts as a baby to get my attention. And, DD keeps climbing on step stool to attempt to brush her teeth/ wash her hand with soap, and she slides down a flight of stairs on her belly (scary). She is tough & naughty, and I am speechless. She sometimes giggles after she calls DH mommy on purpose.