• Praise them often when they're getting along. Avoid the temptation to keep out of the way while they play nicely then rush in with plenty of attention when they fall out - this accidentally rewards them for disagreeing.
• Set a good example. Seeing you get on well with others gives the right messages to your children. Alternatively, they will benefit from watching you sort out disagreements with others by talking things over, keeping calm and avoiding put-downs and aggression.
• Practise negotiation skills. Activities that involve taking turns and team games teach co-operation. Remind children to express their angry feelings through words rather than actions, and to come to an adult for help if they cannot sort out a conflict. Try to find compromise whenever you can, for example tape a TV show that clashes with another favourite, or get the children to agree to swap toys after a set period of time.
• Supervise them closely. This way you'll be around to notice when they get along, wait to see if they can sort out disagreements and step in if they can't.
• Build up their empathy for others. When they understand how others feel children are more likely to get along. Ask questions that get them to think about other people's feelings, such as "How do you think Simon is feeling right now?" and "What would you feel if Emma messed up your game?"
• Play fair. Make sure you treat children equally, don't always assume one is the troublemaker.
• Keep them occupied. Boredom boosts poor behaviour.
• Set up a diversion. Squabbling is often a big fuss about a little thing, so distract children with something more interesting to do.

All children are unique, but birth order may make a difference to how your child acts and reacts. Eldest children tend to have a special place in the family: they may be leaders, more confident and serious than your other children. Youngest children can be more creative, charm and rebel, and can have a very affectionate nature.

Your middle child, however, has a less clear place in the family. They may feel left out and feel that they must compete for your attention. Your middle child will often find life unfair and tell you so in no uncertain terms.

There are advantages to being the middle child, they do make a close set of friends and often rely more on their friendships in the teenage years. They put effort into getting to know others and can be sensitive and understanding.

It can be difficult to find activities that are interesting and safe for children of different ages. Try introducing activities with different levels of interest or complexity. For example, children of all ages can find something to enjoy at the park or playground.

At home, arts and crafts, make believe and construction toys can involve lots of different levels of skill and detail. If you choose an activity that only appeals to the elder child then slot in some time for a simpler game that the younger child can enjoy. Set elder children the task of teaching or helping the younger to play a game. Sometimes, acting the big brother or sister can boost your older child’s sense of importance in the family.

Younger children can find it hard to understand why older children seem to have extra privileges such as staying up later, going on sleepovers etc. Explain that these privileges will come as your younger child grows.

Don’t give in, there are good reasons older children are allowed more, for example, physically they need less sleep, they have greater independence skills and so on. Meet claims of "it’s not fair" with firmness and understanding, and point out the advantages of being younger, such as less pressure to help around the house, tidy up and so on.

While you are in the first flush of love for your newborn, your other children may be a bit less certain about the recent arrival. Your children will enjoy the baby if they play an important part in preparing and caring for their new brother or sister.

Before your baby's born get them involved by helping to pick some names, taking part in redecorating the baby's bedroom or choosing gifts for the baby. Afterwards they may like to help by fetching the nappies and bringing the baby clothes as you need them.

Things will go more smoothly if you can take some time every day to have fun with your older children so they can be the centre of attention and feel you love them just as much as before.

You can expect older children to take a couple of steps back in their development when a new baby arrives. They may ask for your help to do things they can usually manage alone or become more tearful than before.

Take this in your stride, it's a normal reaction to your new baby arriving and will lessen as family life settles into routine.

Financial Decisions
BBC Parenting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting

Seven steps to family planning

1. Find a working solution. If you're on maternity leave, you don't have to say for certain that you'll be going back to your job. But if you plan to return to work early, you'll need to give three weeks notice. If you decide to resign, you'll need to give the amount of notice stated in your contract. Your feelings about whether or not to stay at home with your baby may change with the birth, so give yourself time to make this decision if you're uncertain. You'll need to weigh up loss of earnings against the costs of childcare and travel that you'd incur if you decide to go back to work.
2. Take out life cover. You might want to consider arranging life insurance. If you were to die, life insurance would mean your partner was not left struggling financially. If you buy life insurance, make sure the policy is written in trust, so the proceeds aren't taxed as part of your estate on your death.
3. Make a will. This allows you to decide exactly which people will inherit any money, property or other assets when you die. It also means you can appoint a guardian to look after your children. See Making a will.
4. Consider sickness cover. If you were to have an accident or become disabled or ill for a long time, would your family be able to manage? If not, think about buying accident or sickness cover so that you'd have a guaranteed income in the event of your being unable to work for the foreseeable future. This is especially important if you're self-employed. If you're employed, carefully check the terms of your contract relating to sickness pay.
5. Sort out housing costs. You may want to increase or change your mortgage if you're thinking about moving now that your family's growing. Check interest rates and special offers listed in the financial pages of weekend papers, taking into account early redemption penalties you may have to pay by switching your mortgage if you're already committed to a fixed term.
6. Plan for your children's future. If your children go on to higher education, you're likely to need substantial funds to support them. It would be ideal if you could finish paying your mortgage at the time they go to college or university. Look into paying off your mortgage earlier than the full term if this would tie in with them leaving school. See Saving schemes for kids.
7. Look ahead to retirement. It may seem like a long way off but it's a priority to plan for a pension now. If you're working, investigate your company's pension scheme. It may be worth joining, especially if you receive employer contributions. You may also be able to put in additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to top it up.

The Government's stakeholder pension allows you to contribute up to £3,600 a year. You can have a stakeholder plan if you're working or even if you're already in a company pension scheme, as long as you don't earn more than £30,000 a year.

Alternatively, start long-term saving with tax-free Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs).

Staying at home to look after your baby could affect your future basic retirement pension. You can avoid this by getting Child Benefit in your name, which means your pension qualification will be automatically protected, as long as the Department for Work and Pensions has your National Insurance number.