WDYD to foster sibling closeness/bonding?

CD+AL

I come from a long line of sibling rivals and lukewarm sibling relationships, and DH and his siblings were close as kids but have grown apart as adults.  As our parents are starting to age and become more frail, it's making me realize even more than ever that I want our kids to be close...very close if possible.  I just don't know how to help them build those relationships outside of teaching them to respect each other and treat each other with love.  Obviously, to some extent, it will come down to personality types and other circumstances, but I figure that while they're young I have an opportunity to plant some seeds.

What do you do to foster good, solid relationships between your DCs?

howleyshell

A friend gave me the book:  Siblings without Rivalry.

I haven't read it yet but it's probably time.

So far mine do really well together but we're just getting into the wrestling stage and the hard core angry fighting over toys stage.

When they're mean to each other I use a trick I saw a friend do with her kids.  She makes them sit criss cross apple sauce with their knees touching until they make up and hug.  I LOVE this process because it takes a heated situation and turns it into hugs and a ton of giggles.  They seriously can't even get into position before they start laughing so it's a great way to diffuse the fighting over toys hostility.

I kinda expected some issues this year when they chose 2 different sports but they've both done really well supporting each other.

The other things we currently do is hugs and "lub 'ew brother" (love you brother) at bed time and school drop off.   Seems simple but I really do think it goes a long way that they hug each other like they hug Mommy and Daddy at the end of the day and when we part at the beginning of the day.  They both get really upset if one of them tries to walk away without hugs first.