When the youngest and the eldest do nothing but quarrel, mom’s life turns into a nightmare.
As Tolstoy said, all families are equally happy. And although you cannot find two identical families, the principles on which happiness is built are common to all: love, support, care, attention and true friendship. How to instill these values in children? How to make brothers and sisters truly dear to each other? How to deal with childhood jealousy, in the end? This difficult task will be helped by the lessons that children will learn playfully – reading fairy tales or even watching cartoons.
1. Animated series “Three cats”
A multi-part cartoon, a kind and funny story about the adventures of Korzhik and Kompot’s kittens and their younger sister Caramelka. Together, each time they get into funny stories, and each time parents and friends help them to cope with them. But sometimes stories also happen in their relationship. For example, the Brawl series will tell you how imminent strife between brothers and sisters can end with kind reconciliation.
Korzhik, Kompot and Caramel are going to play a board game, but they quarrel over who will go first. It is impossible to agree, and the brothers and sister quarrel, preferring to play alone. But soon they will realize how unbearably boring it is! And, in the end, it doesn’t matter who goes first, the main thing is that you have someone to play with.
2. Fairy tale “The Snow Queen”, Hans Christian Andersen
Andersen’s fairy tales are deep stories with many meanings hidden in them. But the main idea of the fairy tale about the Snow Queen is the warmth of love between brother and sister. Stolen by an evil and cold sorceress, the boy Kai gets the best toys and in general whatever he wants. But in return he will have to give a warm heart full of true feelings. Kai becomes rude, angry and capricious, spoiled and … cold. But the hot, loving heart of his sister Gerda is able to overcome thousands of obstacles and even the spell of the Snow Queen. When Kai’s heart thaws, he happily leaves the cold palace and returns to normal life, where he has a beloved sister.
3. Cartoon “Frozen”
Another snow story about hot love – this time of two sisters. The cartoon “Frozen” received an Oscar for both wonderful music and incredibly funny conversations of its heroes – the snowman Olaf and the reindeer Sven. But the main thing is for the story of a quarrel between two sisters who, it would seem, cannot understand each other at all, and in a difficult situation rush to help.
4. Book “Alone in the Whole World”, Ulf Nilsson and Eva Erickson
A kind and poignant story about a 5-year-old boy may remind someone of the plot of the movie “Home Alone”. But this is not a superficial comedy, but a deep story about childhood fears and the first independent decisions. And also about the touching love between two brothers, whom their parents do not have time to pick up from kindergarten on time. Frightened that mom and dad will never come for them, the main character first experiences horror, and then discovers responsibility for his younger brother. And he begins to build a new house. The cardboard box becomes a TV set, the spruce branches become a sofa, and a brother becomes the closest creature he has in the whole world … for a whole hour.
5. Cartoon “My Neighbor Totoro”
Animated films by Japanese philosopher and storyteller Hayao Miyazaki connect real worlds with the world of spirits, which only small children can enter. And sisters Satsuki and Mei also meet forest spirits, and even the most important of them – Totoro. But at home the girls are not doing well: their mother is sick and is in the hospital. Therefore, the elder Satsuki takes over some of her household duties. She is also more relaxed, “in an adult way”, takes the news that her mother will not return home for the weekend. And little May, not wanting to come to terms with the absence of her mother, runs away to the hospital and is lost. The “grown-up” Satsuki tries to find her sister, but cannot. And only recognizing that she is a little girl who loves her sister very much and needs her, Satsuki will be able to turn to Totoro for help, who will find Mei. And mom, by the way, will recover very soon and return home.
6. Book “Surprise for Karlchen”, Rotraut Susanna Berner
This book can help a child figure out what will happen now if he has a little brother or sister. In fact, there is a whole series of books about the funny pig Carlchen, for any occasion in a child’s life. But “Surprise for Karlchen” is a special book. After all, a surprise awaits Karlchen in it. And what a! Surprise named Clara. Now Karlchen has to become a worthy older brother. And these are complex feelings, and responsibilities, and privileges – for example, you can drink your grandmother’s carrot juice, because it is now “only for adults.” The book is worth reading for everyone who is expected to have an addition in the family. And also to everyone who loves great illustrations. Its author – Rotraut Susanna Berner – received the Andersen Prize for creating pictures for children’s books, and this, it should be noted, is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world.
7. Book “Where is my sister?”, Sven Nordqvist
Another book with impressive illustrations. This is a whole drawn world, through which you can travel with your eyes, or you can read or listen (an audio CD is included with the book), slightly complex, but especially interesting verse replicas of the heroes. Throughout the book, the little rat will search for his lost restless sister, at the same time discovering rich worlds of fantasy. In them, behind the sofa, there may be a road to Africa, and what an animal or an unprecedented mechanism is hiding around the corner, it is impossible to imagine! The book will help your toddler accept the fact that siblings’ perceptions can be very different from their own. And that this fact does not negate the opportunity to love, make friends and be close.