The needs of an autistic child can make sibling relationships even more strained than usual. An autistic child may not make an ideal playmate for siblings and that can lead to frustration and even resentment. The first step is always to keep your kids informed about autism and the challenges that it presents. Always be sure to focus on the strengths of the autistic child and find ways for the non-autistic siblings to help their autistic sibling be actively involved in family activities. Do your best not to rely heavily on non-autistic siblings so they do not feel solely responsible for their autistic brother or sister.
Helping Siblings to Adjust
Even if you do your best to explain autism to your children and prepare them for some of the ways their autistic sibling is different than others, there may still be times when they have questions that you cannot answer. Here are some suggestions to help non-autistic siblings adjust and feel at ease with how your family functions on a daily basis.
- Family therapy may be a good option to give siblings an outlet for voicing their concerns and feelings. They may feel that they don’t always want to come to their parents for fear of giving them an even heavier burden to bear. Let them know that their feelings are welcome and give them permission to voice their opinions in a fair and reasonable way.
- Be open and honest with your family about your autistic child and any issues that may arise. Your other children will sense if you are upset or uneasy about something; it is better if they get an explanation from you instead of coming up with their own.
- Establish structured playtime between the autistic child and siblings. Choose activities that they all enjoy which will not cause tension or difficulty for the autistic sibling. Help them play together by being involved in the playtime and modeling how to interact with each other.
- Take your non-autistic siblings out for special meals or activities on their own. The autistic child often is the center of attention, and siblings need to feel that they too can be the focus of your attention.
Sibling rivalry is abound in all families, but it can become even more of an issue if there is an autistic child in the home. If siblings feel that they must constantly battle with the autistic child for the attention of the adults in the home, this may build resentment. Use the tips, above, to decrease the possibility of this happening in your home. Get your non-autistic children involved with an autism fundraiser or awareness activity, which may help them stay connected with their autistic sibling and help further their understanding of the condition that afflicts their loved one.
You must log in to post a comment.