What is it like for children who have a sibling with special needs?
It’s very anxiety-provoking. They know their siblings are different, not like their friends’ brothers and sisters. They wish they could have the kind of relationship other children have and that everyone could participate in the same family activities. But they also care deeply about their special-needs siblings. Regardless of the age, typically developing children act like mini-parents. They observe their parents taking care of their siblings and learn to take a nurturing role, watching out for their sisters and brothers. What about sibling rivalry? Does it exist in these families? Definitely, and the rivalry can be even more intense. By the nature of the disability, these siblings require more individualized attention than the typical siblings. When a special-needs child achieves something it’s a big deal but when a typical child does the same thing parents may barely notice. And children keep track. They are very aware of how much and what kind of attention their siblings are gettin
Related Questions
- If I have two or more children on a wait list for the same magnet program or school and one is offered a seat, will the sibling(s) be offered placement at the same time?
- Can a sibling of a Community Partnership for Children (CPC) child begin care through a voucher on the same day under the continuity rules?
- How Do You Encourage A Strong Sibling Relationship?
