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Tired of sibling conflict and yelling? Why not try this creative solution shared by a mom on Tik Tok? It only requires a little time and a good dose of creativity, but it’s said to turn an argument into a moment of bonding.
Any parent of siblings knows it: the relationship between siblings can be great, but also explosive and conflictual. Arguments, shouting and blackmail are sometimes difficult to manage… but on TikTok, a mom has proposed a solution that could calm this down in a good mood.
A rap battle to calm resentment
To deal with yet another argument, @mililove has thus established a rule: no longer constantly accuse each other or fight, but express what each person has on their heart, via a rap battle, with microphone and samples, like a slam pro. And according to the TikTok video made, it works: in real time, this mother listens to the rap of her children (off-screen) who are having fun to the rhythm.
Elley says “Proud mom moment: You taught your kids that they can fight through rap instead of fighting to stay out of trouble and they listened…”
Her video has now accumulated 1.9 million likes and thousands of shares, proof that her message has spoken to many parents.
A creative approach to conflict
Why is this mother’s approach interesting? Because as the magazine argues Parentsthis tip is a great example of how parents can win some battles by encouraging their children to use creativity to express their emotions.
“Channeling children’s emotional energy into creative outlets allows them to use emotions in healthy ways, such as drawing, music or even battle rap.” This is confirmed by Nilou Smaeilpour, a Canadian family psychologist, in the media.
Creativity thus helps to diffuse immediate tension while teaching children effective ways to cope and communicate their feelings. Thus, a source of negative confrontation becomes an avenue for growth and understanding within the family.
But the benefits are also multiple. In addition to discouraging unhealthy forms of conflict, creativity can also promote growth and reduce stress.
“Here, they develop their critical thinking and their ability to solve problems while mastering the process that allows them to bring their ideas to fruition.”continues the expert. “Creativity can build self-esteem and self-confidence by allowing children to work to complete projects and earn praise.”
The importance of this concept in children
Recent research at Durham University also indicates that “Exposure to a creative learning environment helps children develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively…being creative helps children cope with their feelings and fears, manage their emotional states and develop positive dispositions towards challenge, change and self-initiated learning.”
For siblings, joint creative projects also develop teamwork and collaboration skills: they learn to work together to achieve common goals.Through this, rivalry and the feeling of competition are reduced and transformed into a feeling of brotherhood or mutual support,” also supports the therapist.
However, encouraging children to channel their emotions creatively as effectively as possible won’t happen by itself. The environment and tools you provide them with can determine how they use them.
To develop more creative opportunities in your children, the expert therefore advises several things:
- Have the equipment available. Provide as many materials as possible for creative expression, including games, musical instruments, craft or drawing materials…
- Create a space. Provide an open, safe space where children can express themselves freely without fear of criticism.
- Set an example. If you enjoy creative expression yourself, take the opportunity to invite your child to participate. Remember to praise their efforts and their efforts, making them understand that creativity is all about exploration and expression.
- Create a routine. Help your child establish a routine that includes regular creative time, whether daily, weekly, monthly, etc. This will allow them to express their feelings in a natural way by developing a creative habit.
Slideshow: 12 ideas to develop children’s creativity