About this episode

David Thomas and Sissy Goff discuss the importance of sibling relationships and provide practical strategies for parents to strengthen these connections.

Sibling relationships can be some of the longest and most meaningful relationships in a person’s life, helping kids develop empathy, resilience, social skills, and healthy conflict resolution. Sissy and David encourage parents to see sibling comparison, fairness battles, and everyday arguments as opportunities to build lifelong skills rather than problems to eliminate. They share practical ways to strengthen sibling connection, including allowing kids time to work through disagreements, coaching rather than controlling conflict, practicing repair, creating shared experiences and responsibilities, protecting each child’s individuality, and looking beneath difficult behavior to understand what may really be going on. Resources mentioned Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff I Am Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff The VOMP conflict-resolution framework: Voice your hurt, Own your part, Walk a Mile in the other person’s shoes, and Make a Plan . . . . . .  Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Order our new book…

People in this episode

Guests: David Thomas, Sissy Goff

Topics covered

• sibling relationships
• empathy
• conflict resolution
• parenting strategies
• child development

Keywords

• sibling comparison
• fairness battles
• healthy conflict resolution
• empathy
• resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Raising Boys and Girls, That Sounds Fun Network

Books & works: Capable, I Am Capable, VOMP conflict-resolution framework

More episodes of Raising Boys & Girls

• Episode 393: Capable in the Classroom with Dan Carpenter (High School Teacher) and Wheat Teller (Elementary School Teacher) · July 16, 2026 · 47 min
• Episode 392: Capable Connections: Teachers and Coaches with David and Sissy · July 14, 2026 · 34 min
• Episode 391: Family Dinners and the One Question Grandparents Need to Ask with Babs Costello · July 9, 2026 · 31 min
• Episode 390: The Power of Family Through Generations with Carole and John Ferguson, Julie Trapp, Ashley Waltemath, & Amy Pipes · July 7, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Episode 389: Capable Connections: Grandparents with David and Sissy · July 2, 2026 · 30 min
• Episode 388: Raising Capable and Mighty Kids in Today's Cultural Landscape with Sharon McMahon · June 30, 2026 · 36 min

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