DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 446 859 PS 028 993

AUTHOR Copland, Joyce TITLE : Sisters and Brothers--Working Things Out. An Activity Booklet for Parents and Kids. INSTITUTION WGBH-TV, Boston, MA. SPONS AGENCY Department of Education, Washington, DC.; Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2000-00-00 NOTE 17p.; For related documents, see PS 028 991-998. Illustrated by . PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Childrens Television; *Conflict Resolution; Early Childhood Education; Parent Child Relationship; Parent Materials; Parents as Teachers; Problem Solving; *Sibling Relationship; *Siblings; *Young Children IDENTIFIERS *Arthur (Television Series); Public Broadcasting

ABSTRACT Noting that sibling conflict, although common, can be stressful to family members, this activity booklet is designed as a resource for families to help children learn how to work out their arguments and enjoy each other's company. The activity booklet provides a read-aloud story for parents to share with their children featuring the Public Broadcasting System characters Arthur and his sister D.W., and includes suggested questions for parents to ask their children. The booklet also contains play ideas for parents and children to engage in together, and suggests books and Arthur videotapes with stories about sibling relationships. Tips for parents include the following:(1) appreciate each child as an individual;(2) encourage your children to help each other; and (3) build a sense of family. The booklet concludes with suggestions for helping siblings resolve conflict:(1) set the ground rules;(2) get the stories out;(3) state the problem and think of several solutions; and (4) choose a solution.(KB)

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 0 Sisters and Brothers:

Working Things Out ( 0( AN ACTIVITY BOOKLET FOR PARENTS AND KIDS ( U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement 1111 111-111-11111 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproducedas received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to V') improve reproduction quality. 00 How do you help siblings Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. get along better? Look 0 inside for a story, puppets, 0000 and some good tips. 0 O0 000 0 Da0 0 0 oo00C 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 )0o 0 O 0 O 00 00o( ) 00 0 c) 0 O C)0 00 0 0o o0 r 0 o`- 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 0 0a0 0 1`) 0 OL-, 0 0 0X000 0 0 0 ( 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 O' O Doc 0 0 o 0 0 am@ 0 0000 0 0 O 0 0 o000 0 ° `)00 ou CJ 0- 0' 0- 0 0 0 0 0"0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

o DearParents, 0 asking my ownchildren As a mother,I'm constantly of try to getalong." Asthe producer to "please struggle withthe O Arthur'sparents ARTHUR, Iwatch up, butit normal partof growing sameissue. It's a everyoneconcerned. can bewearing on Booklet as aresource this Activity We've designed best tohelp our 0 as weall try our O for families out theirarguments children learnhow to work a story, 0 company.It contains and enjoyeach other's do with O Feud," activitiesfor you to O "Arthur'sFamily hope will be parentinginformation we 0 yourkids, and helpful. he, D.W., watchingARTHUR as We hope youenjoy along with 0 learn howto get and Katecontinue to each other asafamily.

D- Sincerely, O 0 O CarolGreenwald O ARTHUR ExecutiveProducer,

O 0 cr.) (3 0 0 1(15-11°,7-111:. O 0 0 0 0 0r\ 0 Oo C n0 0 0 00 0 O 0 Cc b FamilyFeud Arthur'sPBS Series C Adapted fromthe ARTHUR

0 itHoney, I made the most 0 amazing soufflé!" 0 Arthur's dad says to Mom. o C; "Come and look!" O Just then there's a crash o( in the kitchen. "Oh no! My soufflé!" 0 moans Dad. c Mom and Dad run to the 0' kitchen. Soufflé is splattered all over the floor. 00 O 0 "What happened?" asks Mom. C "She did it!" yells Arthur. C "He did it!" cries D.W. 0 "Enough! No TV for either OD, of you for two months!" says Dad. soufflé (soo-FLAY): A dish made from beaten eggs and baked until it puffs up. O v 0 u U U 0 0- 0 0- ' 0-00 a 0 ' ' ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 0 ) 0 m ON

° Why am I being punished? It was her fault!" Arthur cries. OI "Was not!" yells D.W. ) o C "Was too!" shouts Arthur. 0 "Up to your rooms, kids. You need to cool down. Then we'll talk this out," says Mom. 3 "But I have to go to the Bionic Bunny Arcade," cries Arthur. 0 "Can I still go to the zoo with the Tibbles?" asks D.W. O 0 "We'll see," said Mom. "Now go to your rooms." O O 0 Later, the family has a meeting. "Arthur can go to the arcade and D.W. can go to the zoo..." says Mom. "...If, and only if, we resolve this O problem," says Dad. 0 "We want to hear what happened 0 from both of you," says Mom. O "No interrupting," says Dad. "We'll flip a coin to see who goes first." J O 5 U 0 0 0 000 0 0 ,c 00 n 0 G z-N 0 0 0 00

O 0 O Arthur goes first. He draws pictures as he O explains what happened. o "...then D.W. ran into the kitchen, bumped O( into the table, and knocked the soufflé on 0 the floor," he says. a "That wasn't what happened at all!" says D.W. "Remember, D.W., no interrupting," says Mom. 0 "You'll get your chance to talk next."

a D.W. tells her side of the story. "Arthur pushed me into the 0 table. That's what made the soufflé fall," she says. 0 "Liar!" shouts Arthur. "You're the liar!" D.W. yells.

"No shouting, please," says Mom. "By the way, I see that neither of you is wearing shoes. The kitchen floor is pretty slippery when you're running in socks." What do you think will happen? 6 (N. --) `n0 r0 0- 0O cp`-1 0 0 0 0 0 0O0-v0 0 0 0 (

) 0 O guess I could have bumped into D Ithe table," admits D.W. 0 "Maybe I slid into D.W.," says Arthur. 0 "Maybe we both made the soufflé fall." The kids look at their dad. They see how sad he looks. "We're really, really sorry, Dad," they say.

0 Then Arthur jumps up. "Time to go to the arcade!" he says. "I hope the Tibbles are still at home!" says D.W, running for her coat.

As Arthur and D.W. are about to head out the door, they look at their dad. "I feel bad for Dad," says Arthur. 0 "I'm going to stay home and help him O 0 make a new soufflé." O. "Me, too!" D.W. decides.

0 7

O 0 0 00 c) c,) o a 0u 0 000 0 0O 0 0 0 0 nad brings the new soufflé I, to the table. "This is the most beautiful thing you've ever made!" Mom says. "No, it isn't," says Dad. He turns to Arthur and D.W. 0 "It's the most beautiful thing 0 we've ever made!"

Arthur and D.W. grin from ear to ear. Everyone takes a 0 bite of the soufflé. "Delicious!" 0 they say. 0

C Mk YourKids: 0 whathappened in What doyouthink about O thisstory? theproblem? 0 and D.W.help solve How didArthur who O with someoneover everargued Have you How didyou happened? 0 was toblame? What 0 solve theproblem? 8 0 atch these ARTHUR shows with your children, or ask them to tell you the story. It's a good way to start a conversation about getting along with brothers and sisters.You can find these ARTHUR videos and books at your library, video store, or bookstore.Read the books, too!

Arthur'sBaby Arthur'snotsure he baby wants anew sister. AllBaby Kate to do is seems cry, especially Arthurcomes whenever near. Whydoesn't Baby Katelike him?

ASK YOUR DW. haslost herblankie. Where CHILD: her all How does can it be?Arthur follows Arthurfeel about trying tofind it. new baby his over town, sister?Why? What happensat the ASK YOURCIAILD: the story? end of How does D.W. in feel then? Arthur flow doesArthur help this story? What do you thinkare the to Arthur and bad good What doesD.W.say thingsabout new baby havinga when shefinally finds herblankie? in afamily? Tell about a timewhen youhelped when your brotheror sister, or helped you. your brotheror sister o How did you feel? 9 0 00 0O 0 0 o0 0 JILIJIL-01-111cP 0 0c 0 0 C-) 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 c-J o

Act ItOut! 0 0 0 utrout the two puppets. Then carefully_cut) f'C, j) ,-, ogl out the holes _Put two fingers through the holes. Your fingers become the_puppet's legs. Put on a puppet pl*with someone in your family In your\ play;7Arthur-- /andaD.W have an argument. Then they figure out a/way to' solve o their problem. Use the play ideas below, ),or, ) \ , make up your own: 0 r 0 #1 D PlayIdea watch the 0 D wants to Arthur Special Bionic BunnyHoliday 3 D.W. wantstowatch J onTV. But 0c 0 How canthey MaryMoo-Cow. o 0 0 solvetheirproblem? 0

Cr' ). , c 1 0 0 PlayIdea#2 D.W.repeats everythingArthur 3 says. It'sdriving Arthurcrazy! Howcan Arthur get D.W.to stop? ILl 0 r-)0 000 0 00 0 000

0 ( 0

0 0 0c O 0 0 0 o c O 0

c o O O 0 oc 0 o o 1D a O 0 O

0 C 0 00 0 uo 0 o The families in these books have fun and Beezus and Ramonaby resolve quarrels in lots of creative ways. Beverly Cleary. (Camelot) Share some of these great stories with your kids. It isn't easy being a big sister to Ramona. (Ages 5-8)

Jamaica Tag-Alongby Juanita Havill. (Houghton Mifflin) Jamaica wants to play, but her brother says no. (Ages 4-7)

The Pain and the Great Oneby Judy Blume. (Dell Publishing) A sister and brother each tell their side of the story. (Ages 5-8)

Peter's Chairby Ezra Jack Keats. (Puffin) Peter has a new baby sister and he's not very happy about it. (Ages 3-7)

'0 7,

ow can you help brothers and sisters get along better? Here are some ideas.

eachchild Appreciate as anindividual. time alone O Try tospend a little reading, with eachchild, talking, >0 cuddling, ordoing afavorite It lets yourchild know activity. she isimportant that youthink. he or and special. Encourageyour kids appreciate to help Help yourchildren you each For example, when other. each other. ,mightht say, An older together you childcan help are all one tie shoes a younger brother lovesthat rattle! or get Your baby it. from a something he's learningto shake high shelf.A Look how can help younger child an oldersibling things. carry

Siblings of all agescan comfort O each other when theyfeel sad. Praise your childrenfor helping cs each other: Look athow happy your sister looksbecauseyou 3 helped her open thatdoor.

0 JUILIVILINJUILIIJILICA-110101LJOJILIILI0 00 0 00 0 00 0 O 0 u O nr-imirninorrnmnr. O 0 0 0 O Build a senseof family. family fun.Choose PARENTS' CORNER Set asidetime for OOOOO everyoneenjoys. For O activities that watch "I built a relationship between my kids can baketogether, example, you from the very beginning. When Baby movies, or goto thepark. Anna smiled I would say, 'Brian, look adventuresyou've Tell storiesabout she likesyou!"Jennifer R. about good shared as afamily and had with yourown times thatyou "Even though my daughter's brothers are parentsand siblings. far away, I always talk to her about them. I remind her that they still love her. I tell rituals in yourfamily life, Include her that when they come to visit, she activities,family like specialholiday should always help them and show her and singingor reading reunions, give children love for them."SujeyF. together.Family rituals °O a senseof belonging. "It's important to do things together as When your a family. We watch TV together, take Talk aboutfamily values. kids get angry,remind them: walks, and go to the park."Dan M. don't hit in ourfamily Remember, we What wordscan "Every Saturday we get together and we when weget mad. right now? talk. We share everything: what we want, you sayto Elsa things that are happening to us. We speak

CO. .6) about everything."lvelisse M. O

pit. 4

4,111, sow''4

Turn to page 14 for tips on helping your kids work things 41 out when they are angry. 14 For Parents O' Working ItOut

onflict between siblings isn't always a bad thing. 1/44 As your children learn to work out their disagreements and accept each other's differences, they'll be gaining valuable experience at solving problems and getting along with other people.

Give each child your a turn to say what youwill help happened Say that problem. and how sheor he feels. solvetheir children not goingto Rephrase what Tell themyou are you hear each child say. This gives take sides. you a chanceto be sure of the factsand makes the child if heor shewill child Ask each For feel heard.It also gives groundrules. both kidsa agree tosome chance to hear n getsto tell the story fromthe e:Each perso else other person's example without anyone point of viewa whathappened calling. second time. And Noname interrupting. angry, childrenare very If your tocool down they mayneed time start tosolve beforethey can theproblem.

is

11111111111LIIILN_ RAIL 00 00 0 0 0 O 0a0 0 a C PARENTS' CORNER

"When my kids fight, I tell them a story. Sometimes it's a story from my own life when I fought with my brothers and sisters, or it's a fable or a fairy tale. The stories show the kids that it's not easy, but there C are rewards when you stop fighting and start getting along. "Julio V.

"My kids were fighting about a piece of cake 0 and the little one came to me complaining. J I got her brother and said, 'It seems we're having a problem here. Let's all take a turn and tell our story, including myself.' Then I Statetheproblem helped them negotiate and look at different ofseveral solutions and choose one that they both andthink agreed on."Belkis del R. 0 solutions. children problemboth "If the fights get physical, I put my kids in 'time Focus onthe is to ratherthan who out' so they can cool off a bit. Afterwards we arehaving might say, example, you talk about the problem they had. We always blame.For TV and twokids who end our discussions We haveone differentshows. with apologies. want towatch Choose a solution. They have to under- do so you can you Help the Ask, What child childrenchoose stand that they must OK? Leteach a solution both feel that worksfor everybody take care of each can and makes suggestideas. everyone feelOK. other. "Ingrid C. Repeatthe solution that wasagreed to and talkabout how practice. to put itinto This information is adapted from the PBS Ready To Learn about Conflict Facilitator Manual prepared by Media Education Consultants. © 2000 PBS Ready To Learn. Talk ata later time about howthe solution"is working. U c) u 0 00 u0- 0 C O ° 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0C)(- °o °O0 00 op u co 0 0 Oa 00 00000000 0 O 0 0 C 0000000 0 O 0 0 - o Be sure to check out %o 0 the family conflict Q 0 mop@ ( resolution game, 0orThere are lots of fun 0 00 "You've Got to Be Kidding!" o0 things for you to do with \.. OC d your family on the ARTHUR G ) Web site. Check it out at O 0 www.pbskids.orwarthur 0 0 o0 0 0 0 00 0 0 C 0o 0 00° 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 000`-'' 00 0 00°00 o00 00 0(-) 0 0° c o 00 0 0 n 0 0 o0C°an a °0-00 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0000 °00 0 00 0 rm 0 n0 () 0 00 (DL- 0 Oo 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 000°0 0 v 0 a 00 0 CP ° ° 0° 00 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 o 0 0 .0 0 a o 0 o 0 00 0 C 0 0 0 oo CC CO 0 0 0o 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 ;) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-0000 000 000 00 0 0 0 0 'D r), 0 0 ° a oc) ° 00 00 O This guide was produced by the Educational Print and Outreach department of WGBH.

Director, Educational Writer Funding forARTHURis provided by the U.S. Department of Education, From WGBH Boston and MAR Corporation Print and Outreach Joyce Copland the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public televisor viewers. Karen Barss Corporate funding is provided by Libby's Juicy Juice, PostAlpha.Bits Designers Cereal, and LEGO. Manager, Danielle Edson Educational Print Erica Gregg oQ Sonja Latimore 0 2000 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. All characters Print Production and underlying materials (Including artwork) copyright by Marc Brown. Editors Lenore Lanier Gibson Arthur, D.W., and the otherARTHURcharacters are trademarks of Marc Brown. PBS Kids and the PBS Kids logo are service marks and/or trademarks of the Elly Schottman Public Broadcasting Service. Used with permission. DVS Is a registered Advisors Cyrisse Jaffee CC Annuli is closed captioned for viewers who are deal or hard-of-hearing. trademark of WGBH. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed Nancy Carlsson-Paige material for educational use only. All other rights reserved. Other than as Illustrator Ana Margarita Cebollero discussed above, no part of Sisters and Brothers: Working Things Out may be Marc Brown Elizabeth Crary )Airmua is described by Descriptive Video Service (DVS.) for audiences reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by who are blind or visually impaired. To access DVS, activate the second any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, Sherry) Browne Graves audio program (SAP.) on your stereo TV or VCR. without the prior written permission of the WGBH Educational Foundation, Donar Juba 125 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134. Marisa Peralta 17 U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) National Library of Education (NLE) IC Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

NOTICE

Reproduction Basis

This document is covered by a signed "Reproduction Release (Blanket)" form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing all or classes of documents from its source organization and, therefore, does not require a "Specific Document" Release form.

This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission to reproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, may be reproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Release form (either "Specific Document" or "Blanket").

EFF-089 (3/2000)