Sibling fight de-escalation

They're about to come to blows and you need them both to settle.

Try saying

“I see two kids who need help right now.” Two kids about to come to blows over the iPad
“Bodies stay safe. I'm going to step between you.” Two kids about to come to blows over the iPad
“We'll figure out what happened after everyone calms down.” Two kids about to come to blows over the iPad

For each age

Preschool (3–5)

“I see two kids who need help right now.”
“Bodies stay safe. I'm going to step between you.”
“We'll figure out what happened after everyone calms down.”

Naming both kids as needing help refuses the trial. The fight is the symptom; flooding is the cause.

School (5–12)

“I'm not figuring out who started it.”
“Both of you, separate corners for two minutes.”
“When you're calm, we'll talk.”

Separating bodies first signals safety. School-age kids can hear "we'll talk later" if you actually come back.