How to Support the Siblings of
Your Autistic / Neurodiverse Child
How to Support the Siblings of
Your Autistic / Neurodiverse Child
How to Support the Siblings of
Your Autistic / Neurodiverse Child
Parenting the siblings of neurodiverse children, including autism, Down syndrome, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), etc., presents its own unique set of challenges. Your sons and daughters are likely to experience:
• Frustration because they can’t interact “normally” with their brother or sister with special needs
• Embarrassment around their friends
• Jealousy that you spend more time with their sibling
• Concern because they feel your grief and stress
• Enormous pressure trying to make up for what they believe are their sibling’s deficits
• Fear at being the target of aggressive behaviors [1]
Parenting the siblings of neurodiverse children, including autism, Down syndrome, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), etc., presents its own unique set of challenges. Your sons and daughters are likely to experience:
• Frustration because they can’t interact “normally” with their brother or sister with special needs
• Embarrassment around their friends
• Jealousy that you spend more time with their sibling
• Concern because they feel your grief and stress
• Enormous pressure trying to make up for what they believe are their sibling’s deficits
• Fear at being the target of aggressive behaviors [1]
Parenting the siblings of neurodiverse children, including autism, Down syndrome, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), etc., presents its own unique set of challenges. Your sons and daughters are likely to experience:
• Frustration because they can’t interact “normally” with their brother or sister with special needs
• Embarrassment around their friends
• Jealousy that you spend more time with their sibling
• Concern because they feel your grief and stress
• Enormous pressure trying to make up for what they believe are their sibling’s deficits
• Fear at being the target of aggressive behaviors [1]
Sisters and brothers of neuroviderse children are likely to experience stress regarding behavior issues that disrupt the family. The neurodiverse child may have problems such as not sleeping and keeping others awake, tantruming, yelling, breaking things, and going into their siblings bedrooms, to name a few.
Overall, siblings of autistic children are more likely to have problems functioning in their day-to-day life. [2] And there is evidence that the siblings of autistic children are more vulnerable to psychological problems in the future. [3] These issues often apply to siblings of all other neurodivergent children as well.
Parents often feel an enormous amount of guilt because their neurodiverse child can take up most of their time and attention.
• Do you feel like you are neglecting your other children?
• Are you stressed to the point that you are more irritable and easily lose your temper?
• Do you feel stretched beyond your limits trying to meet the needs of everyone in your family?
• Do you worry that your children are copying behaviors of your neurodiverse child?
• Are your children fighting and having a lot of conflicts?
The bottom line is, trying to take care of the needs of all your children is OVERWHELMING!
Sisters and brothers of neurodiverse children are likely to experience stress regarding behavior issues that disrupt the family. Their neurodiverse siblings may have problems such as not sleeping and keeping others awake, tantruming, yelling, breaking things, and going into their siblings bedrooms, to name a few.
Overall, siblings of neurodiverse children are more likely to have problems functioning in their day-to-day life. [2] And there is evidence that the siblings of neurodiverse children are more vulnerable to psychological problems in the future. [3] These issues often apply to siblings of all other neurodivergent children as well.
Parents often feel an enormous amount of guilt because their neurodiverse child can take up most of their time and attention.
• Do you feel like you are neglecting your other children?
• Are you stressed to the point that you are more irritable and easily lose your temper?
• Do you feel stretched beyond your limits trying to meet the needs of everyone in your family?
• Do you worry that your other children are copying behaviors of your neurodivergent child?
• Are your children fighting and having a lot of conflicts?
The bottom line is, trying to take care of the needs of all your children is OVERWHELMING!
Sisters and brothers of neurodiverse children are likely to experience stress regarding behavior problems that disrupt the family. Their neuroviderse siblings may have problems such as not sleeping and keeping others awake, tantruming, yelling, breaking things, and going into their siblings bedrooms, to name a few.
Overall, siblings of neurodiverse children are more likely to have problems functioning in their day-to-day life. [2] And there is evidence that the siblings of children with autism are more vulnerable to psychological problems in the future. [3] These issues often apply to siblings of all other neurodivergent children as well.
Parents often feel an enormous amount of guilt because their neurodiverse child can take up most of their time and attention.
• Do you feel like you are neglecting your other children?
• Are you stressed to the point that you are more irritable and easily lose your temper?
• Do you feel stretched beyond your limits trying to meet the needs of everyone in your family?
• Do you worry that your other children are copying behaviors of your neurodiverse child?
• Are your children fighting and having a lot of conflicts?
The bottom line is, trying to take care of the needs of all your children is OVERWHELMING!
How You Can Help All Your Children
How You Can Help All Your Children
The challenges that brothers and sisters face has a lot to do with their age, their understanding of their siblings differences (neurodivergence), and their individual personalities and temperament. It is important that you begin explaining about the challenges that their sibling has, why they exhibit extreme or unusual behaviors, and reasons for any social and communication problems. Their understanding will change as they grow and develop, so these conversations needs to be ongoing.
Books for siblings can be very beneficial in helping them understand neurodiversity. A Day in Our Shoes website has “23 encouraging books about siblings with disabilities”.
It is important to give siblings the opportunity to express their feelings regarding their neurodivergent brother or sister, in an accepting and supportive manner. No matter how strong or negative their feelings may be, have private conversations and make it okay for your child to say whatever they feel. In addition, it is often necessary to learn strategies to teach coping and social skills to your neurodivergent child.
Sisters and brothers can learn how to react and relate to their neurodivergent sibling.
And they can have a positive relationship with them!
The difficulties associated with parenting a neurodivergent child and a “neurotypical” child can be immense, particularly when you are trying to give each of your children the full support they need to thrive in life. Many parents and their children can benefit greatly from getting outside support.
It is important to reach out. You can get help for your children. Let’s determine how your family can best relate to, appreciate, and enjoy living life in a neurodiverse family. Together we can develop a plan and strategies that can support your children and address the emotional needs of every family member.
Being the sibling of a neurodivergent child can be challenging, but it can also be a very enriching experience. If your family, particularly the siblings of your neurodivergent child, are struggling with their role in the family, we are here to help. Contact us for a free 15-minute introductory phone call.
[1] autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/siblings
[2] huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/siblings-kids-with-disabilities-_n_3682881.html
[3] raisingchildren.net.au/articles/autism_spectrum_disorder_siblings.html
How You Can Help All Your Children
The challenges that brothers and sisters face has a lot to do with their age, their understanding of their neurodiverse siblings, and their individual personalities and temperament. It is important that you begin explaining about the challenges that their sibling has, why they exhibit extreme or unusual behaviors, and reasons for any social and communication problems. Their understanding will change as they grow and develop, so these conversations needs to be ongoing.
Books for siblings can be very beneficial in helping them understand your neurodivergent child. A Day in Our Shoes website has “23 encouraging books about siblings with disabilities”.
It is important to give siblings the opportunity to express their feelings regarding their neurodivergent brother or sister, in an accepting and supportive manner. No matter how strong or negative their feelings may be, have private conversations and make it okay for your child to say whatever they feel. In addition, it is often necessary to learn strategies to teach coping and social skills to your neurodivergent.
Sisters and brothers can learn how to react and relate to their sibling with special needs. And they can have a positive relationship with them!
The difficulties associated with parenting a neurodiverse child and a “neurotypical” child can be immense, particularly when you are trying to give each of your children the full support they need to thrive in life. Many parents and their children can benefit greatly from getting outside support.
It is important to reach out. You can get help for your children. Let’s determine how your family can best relate to, appreciate, and enjoy living life as a neurodiverse family. Together we can develop a plan and strategies that can support your children and address the emotional needs of every family member.
Being the sibling of a neurodiverse child can be challenging, but it can also be a very enriching experience. If your family, particularly the siblings of your neurodiverse child, are struggling with their role in the family, we are here to help. Contact us for a free 15-minute introductory phone call.
[1] autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/siblings
[2] huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/siblings-kids-with-disabilities-_n_3682881.html
[3] raisingchildren.net.au/articles/autism_spectrum_disorder_siblings.html
The challenges that brothers and sisters face has a lot to do with their age, their understanding of their neurodiverse siblings, and their individual personalities and temperament. It is important that you begin explaining about the challenges that their sibling has, why they exhibit extreme or unusual behaviors, and reasons for any social and communication problems. Their understanding will change as they grow and develop, so these conversations needs to be ongoing.
Books for siblings can be very beneficial in helping them understand your neurodiverse child. A Day in Our Shoes website has “23 encouraging books about siblings with disabilities”.
It is important to give siblings the opportunity to express their feelings regarding their special needs brother or sister, in an accepting and supportive manner. No matter how strong or negative their feelings may be, have private conversations and make it okay for your child to say whatever they feel. In addition, it is often necessary to learn strategies to teach coping and social skills to your neurodiverse child.
Sisters and brothers can learn how to react and relate to their neurodiverse sibling. And they can have a positive relationship with them!
The difficulties associated with parenting neuroviderse child and a “neurotypical” child can be immense, particularly when you are trying to give each of your children the full support they need to thrive in life. Many parents and their children can benefit greatly from getting outside support.
It is important to reach out. You can get help for your children. Let’s determine how your family can best relate to, appreciate, and enjoy living life as a neurodiverse family. Together we can develop a plan and strategies that can support your children and address the emotional needs of every family member.
Being the sibling of a neurodiverse child can be challenging, but it can also be a very enriching experience. If your family, particularly the siblings of your neurodiverse child, is struggling with their role in the family, we are here to help. Contact us for a free 15-minute introductory phone call.
