Siblings Reactions..
When a child is in crisis, the everyday problems of her brothers and sisters seem to recede into the background. Reactions differ. Siblings may become superachievers to get their share of the attention--or they may seek negative pursuits, for the same reason.Resentment is also a natural reaction when another child in the family takes more attention and more financial resources than you do.
Our child's siblings are wonderful with him, however, they do sometimes feel that he gets away with more. But so far we have been able to talk this out with them.
--Julie, mother of four-year-old Sean (diagnosed PDD-NOS)
How Parents can be Supportive:
It goes without saying that a fair share of your time is far more important than possessions, space, or even privacy. It's essential to make some special time for your other children. Some parents have a meal out, go to a movie, or enjoy an activity with their other children each week, and swear by the results. Ensure that your other children can find time to talk with you about school, friends, ideas, and concerns, without interruptions from your child with a PDD. You may need to be flexible about bedtimes one night each week, allowing another child to stay up just a bit later than usual to enjoy some one-on-one time with you. Another way to carve out time is to wake one child up a bit early once a week for a cup of cocoa and some quiet talk.http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/stress_family.html
Through my interview with a parent with a child with autism, she mentioned similar ways in which she is supportive. In dealing with stress and just in general, she said it was essential for her to make time for herself as well as for her other children. The ways in which this article suggest parents are supportive with the siblings of a child with disabilities I find would be very helpful with parents. This is an article that educators with children with disability in their classrooms can show to parents if the child has siblings.
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