How to Ignore an Annoying Sibling

Sometimes you want to hang out with friends your own age without your brother or sister bothering you. It's embarrassing when you have to make excuses for a younger sibling's rude and intrusive behavior. In addition, sometimes you just want to be left alone to study or read.

Instructions

1. Plan ahead. If you are inviting a new friend over after school and you don't want your younger sister barging into your room and jumping on the bed, prepare one of her favorite activities to keep her occupied. Find a coloring book or put on a special movie for her to watch.

2. Introduce your new friend to your little sister right away to keep her from becoming curious and bugging you.

3. Pretend you're going to study. If your little sister thinks you are doing something exciting, she will want to hang around and annoy you. Get a boring book and beginning reading it aloud to your friend until your sister becomes bored and leaves.

4. Ask your new friend to bring along a little brother or sister for your sibling to play with. Sometimes, just having a friend of her own will keep her from annoying you.

5. Promise your little sister that you'll spend quality time with her later if she leaves you and your friend alone right now. Remember, she's following you around because she admires you. Tell her that you'll take her to the playground to swing if she quits annoying you for a while. Be sure to carry through on your promises.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that friends may come and go but your sibling is a family member. Don't become so wrapped up in your friends that you forget that your little sister or brother needs some of your time, too.