While a certain amount of sibling rivalry may be expected in families, what happens when it goes too far, and you start to feel like a bouncer because of all the fights you have to break up every day? It's time to employ some strategies to help your kids play well together and become the friends you want them to be.

What can I do to teach my children to get along? Here are 5 parenting tips.

1. Maintain high standards.

The more you expect from your kids, the more you will get. That being said, don't expect your 18-month-old to behave as if he's five, but be aware that the more you believe in your children, the more they will blossom. Expect proper manners and appropriate behavior. Don't allow one child to dictate how the home is run. When you expect your kids to behave and treat each other respectfully, you may find their behavior improves.

2. Don't force children to share.

This relates to the above tip. If children are taught to respect each other, and practice The Golden Rule (treat others as you want to be treated), they will start wanting to share, and put others first. Forcing them to share their toys will make them more possessive and potentially aggressive. Depending on the child's attitude, sometimes there is nothing wrong with keeping their toys to themselves. Especially if a younger sibling is likely to damage an older sibling's stuff, remind the younger sibling that they can earn toys like their older sibling when they are older.

3. Reward positive behavior.

When Johnny lets Sarah sit in the front seat without a fight, commend him for being kind and putting his sister first. Find out what your kids are motivated by, and use that to your advantage. They can add this wish to a digital reward chart, and your family can check off each time they get ready for school without an argument. As you become satisfied with their progress, reward them with something from Wishfinity’s universal wishlist to keep the excellent cycle going.

4. Don't take sides.

Sometimes, sibling squabbles are meant to attract your attention. When you find your children fighting and automatically ask, "Who started it?" Then, you punish the child who did and let the other go free, showing favoritism to the ‘victim' child. It takes two to fight, so if your kids are squaring off, it's their fault. Remind them that fighting is inappropriate, and then punish them equally.

5. Step back and let nature take its course.

Unless your kids are about to hurt each other physically, sometimes you are better off ignoring the situation and letting it work itself out on its own. Don't sit back and allow excessive bullying or rude remarks, but realize that childhood is when kids learn how to form healthy relationships with other humans. Their siblings are an excellent place to start. When you automatically end every battle, you teach them that mom will step in and make it all better. They will never learn to solve a conflict this way.

Remember that someday, when your children are adults, they will probably look back on childhood and realize that you only wanted the best for them. Remember that your job is to train them to be responsible adults and interact with others they meet positively. Sibling relationships are an excellent way to learn these skills.