Name-calling is usually done in frustration! No one likes to be called insulting names. Brothers can sometimes communicate this way without meaning terrible harm but they are too young to understand the long term ramifications of long term verbal abuse. Occasional insults in an otherwise close and loving relationship between siblings can be fairly well tolerated. However if the relationship is not close and loving, then the effects of insults can be much worse. Insults have the potential to harm self-concept and self-esteem. Moreover, many children who are allowed to call each other "innocent" names grow up to call their spouses names as well. This bad habit can seriously harm intimate relationships. Your job is always to treat name-calling seriously. Handle the same way you would handle other unacceptable behaviors such as physically beating each other up, throwing and breaking things or speaking rudely to you.   Sarah Chana

My brothers and I called each other "stupid" and "idiot" constantly.My mom and dad corrected us constantly too! We knew it was wrong but we did it when we wanted to bug each other and it was worth the reprimand! But we've always been best friends and this name calling was just part of a brotherly repartee. I agree that it might be different if the brothers really don't like each other.

Maybe brothers don't mind being insulted but as I sister who was called names by her brothers, I can tell you that it bothered me a lot. My older brothers called each other and me names all the time. Even though I'd say our relationship was very normal, I still feel pain when I think back to the name calling. I really did not like it and I work very hard to make sure my kids don't call each other names.

My kids call each other names and while I don't take it too seriously, I do make sure they receive a punishment when they do it so that they learn it is unacceptable. I don't think they're really doing that much harm to each other because we are a loving family and they play together all the time. Still, they have to learn right from wrong.