The Gumball Challenge: Encouraging Sibling Support Through Fun

I wanted to share a little story from our home that has made a big impact on how our kids interact with each other – and I think it might inspire your family too.

Like many families, we were dealing with the usual sibling bickering. Our kids, aged 7, 5, 3, and almost 1, seemed to be in a constant state of conflict. Every day, it was a chorus of “Stop whining,” “Stop fighting,” “Help your sibling!”—and honestly, it was wearing us down.

But then we decided to try something different. Instead of focusing on what they were doing wrong, we started to incentivize the positive behaviors we wanted to see more of. And so, the Gumball Machine was born.

We drew a large gumball machine on a piece of paper and stuck it on our fridge. The idea was simple: every time one of the kids did something nice for their sibling, we would draw a gumball in the machine. It could be anything from helping each other out, saying something kind, or honestly just ignoring their 3 year old brother throwing a football at them instead of starting a mutiny.

At first I thought this gumball idea (originally gotten from The Family Goals Podcast!) was going to be totally cheesy for our older kids, but they LOVE it! 

Before we knew it, the kids were not only behaving better—they were actively looking for ways to be kind to each other. They’d rush up to us, saying things like, “Hey Mom, Annabelle got me a water without me asking—can you give her a gumball? She deserves it!”

The best part? They have no idea what they’re working toward. Maybe we’ll get ice cream or have a family picnic when the machine is full, but the excitement and motivation aren’t even about the end reward. It’s about the process, the teamwork, and the joy of making each other’s day a little brighter.

This simple idea has transformed our home. Instead of focusing on the negatives, our kids are learning to work together, to notice the good in each other, and to celebrate it. And honestly, it’s inspired us as parents too.

If you’ve been dealing with sibling squabbles or just want to encourage more positivity in your home, I highly recommend giving the Gumball Machine a try. It’s a fun, simple way to teach kids the power of kindness, and the results might just surprise you!