To stop time-sucking sibling squabbles:

1 Make a Schedule.
Kids often fight about who gets the biggest pancake or who gets into the car first. Mark your daily calendar with who goes first for what. Then everyone can see whose turn it really is.

2 Pause for Air.
When siblings are in a heated toy tug-of-war, avoid jumping in to fix it. Instead, give each a turn to talk about his feelings. kids want to be heard and validated. Praise them when they do it well.

3 Show your goodness.
If you show grouchiness in the a.m., your kids may mimic that. So show how you sweetly take turns toasting bagels with your hubby. Your good behavior sets the tone for all.

Source: Fran Walfish, PhD, author of The Self-Aware Parent