Mom Not Prepared for ‘Game’ 7-Year-Old Daughter Plays With Little Brother

When a mom asked her seven-year-old daughter to keep her younger brother entertained while she made dinner, she could never have predicted what would come next.

Sibling disagreements are a common part of life for families from a young age. It can be frustrating for parents to see their offspring falling out over things, but research suggests it may actually stand them in good stead later in life. In 2011, scientists from the University of Cambridge‘s Center for Family Research in the U.K. published research indicating that disagreements between brothers and sisters helped increase their development, vocabulary, social skills and competitive spirit.

The study, called Toddlers Up, was based on analysis of 140 children over a five-year period, with researchers examining video footage of how children interacted with friends, family and total strangers. It highlighted the profound impact sibling relationships have on a child’s social skills, even if the children involved don’t necessarily see eye to eye.

The findings will be music to the ears of many moms and dads, and Maggie Stevens, from Dayton, Ohio, might well be among them.

A stay-at-home mom to Mia and three-year-old Max, she told Newsweek she’s “super grateful” to have been able to spend the last six years watching her kids grow and develop into the little people they are today.

What’s even more lovely is seeing them play together, which she says is something “not out of the ordinary” in the Stevens household, even if there is the occasional blip. “They play nice 85 percent of the time,” Stevens said. “Then fight like cats and dogs for the other 15 percent.”

So Stevens thought little of turning to Mia for help in keeping Max occupied while she busied herself in the kitchen. “I asked her if she could play a game or do something with Max while I made dinner to keep him out of the kitchen and she happily agreed.”

Eager not to disturb them in case it disrupted whatever game they were playing, Stevens set to work making dinner and was quietly impressed at how they seemed to be getting on.

It was only when she went in later that she discovered the truth: Mia’s “game” involved taping Max to a chair. But while it might sound a touch unusual, it’s important to stress that Max was very much a willing party in proceedings. In fact, Stevens said he “thought it was funny.”

She didn’t quite know what to think though. “I was honestly shocked because she’s never done that before,” Stevens said. “But they were both smiling and giggling so then I felt some relief!”

Eager to find out how things unfolded, Stevens quizzed Mia on what had happened. “She said Max was ‘being annoying’ and trying to go into the kitchen’ so she taped him up! Luckily he thought it was a game and she technically did what I asked.”

Max loved the game. He might even be up for playing it again, though Stevens might take some convincing. “He is a wild one and thought it was hilarious,” she said.

An unconventional sibling disagreement, Stevens shared footage of the fallout from their “game” to TikTok, where it has proven very popular.

“I love sharing little bits of reality online because I find peace seeing other people’s real life! Especially moms,” she said. “Social media makes others’ lives seem ‘perfect’ far too often so I like to remind others that stuff is happening behind the scenes.”