Give siblings some personal space

Growing up with a brother or sister with a learning disability in particular, may often mean that siblings have very little or no personal space - whenever they are at home they may have someone else always asking to play, always tugging at them, or always making noises that are hard to listen to. In families without learning disability, siblings usually learn (or can learn) to respect each others space and know that it is important to let other people have time to themselves – certainly for children over the age of 7.

Personal space helps us to unwind, to reflect on things that have happened, and to recharge our batteries after being with lots of people (as in school). This is also a time when children can think creatively, for example making up stories in their head or making plans for something. As a parent you will know how important personal space is and how special it is when you can have it.

Some things you can do to help siblings get space for themselves:

Ask siblings about what time of day they like to have time to themselves - just to be on their own - and see what you can do to make this possible

Can you find a space at home where a sibling can be undisturbed for a while without their brother or sister asking to play or interrupting them?

Use whatever form of communication you have with your child with a learning disability to explain that a sibling needs 'space'. Make sure he/she is rewarded for leaving the sibling alone during this time.

Can the sibling have a lock on their room door and a sign that their brother or sister recognizes that tells them if they can or cannot come in?

Space may not need to be physical but can mean a child is drawing or reading at the kitchen table, but without anyone making demands of him or her. It may be possible for some siblings and their brother or sister with a learning disability to learn to respect each others personal space, in the same room