Caring for a child with special needs along with all the other demands of work and caring for the rest of the family can be very challenging. If the demands and the stress level are high in your family, it is difficult for everyone. Siblings of children with special needs have special needs themselves. Their sister or brother with special needs will get a bigger share of attention. While having a special needs sib presents challenges, it also comes with opportunities. Here are some suggestions for supporting siblings:
- Don't expect children or teenagers to accept adult roles, particularly in caring for the family member with a disability.
- Don't imply that the sibling without disabilities has a lifetime responsibility to care for their brother or sister
- Integrate the whole family into community activities: sports, music groups, church or civic organizations.
- Encourage siblings to observe their sibling with a disability in therapy.
- Set reasonable expectations for all of the children in the family.
- Seek Family counseling if any member experiences prolonged periods of depression or anger that cannot be relieved.
- Relay information to siblings so they feel like part of the family.
- Use family conferences to provide an open setting for siblings to ask questions and acknowledge feelings.
- Prepare siblings for changes in home life before they actually occur.
- Understand that each child has different needs. Allow siblings to set their own pace for learning and involvement.
- Legitimize reasonable anger. All children behave badly sometimes.
- Help siblings to develop their own identities, seeing the differences and similarities between themselves and a child with special needs, and achieving successes without guilt.
To be continued……
Source: Delores Curran"100 ways to reduce Family Stress" Family Support Bulletin.
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