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Spend time each day with siblings one to one

Give your sibling child 15 minutes a day of uninterrupted time with you with doing something they enjoy

Talk about disability and additional needs from an early age

Be open and honest with your sibling child about their brother or sister’s condition and keep them updated regularly

Acknowledge the negative feelings as well as the positive ones

Listen to your sibling child’s feelings as this will help them feel loved and build a strong bond between you

Teach siblings fun activities they can do with their brother or sister

Show your children how to play together for short amounts of time

Give siblings choice about spending time with their brother or sister

Ask your sibling child about how they want to divide their time being with their brother or sister and being with other people

Limit the type and amount of care and support that siblings do

Make sure your sibling child is not doing care tasks that should be done by an adult or that affect their wellbeing or school work

Take action on issues that affect your siblings’ wellbeing and education

Get help with things like disturbed sleep, bullying, getting hurt or not being able to do homework

Talk to siblings in the teenage years about plans for the future

Let siblings know they have choice about their involvement and inform them about the options available for their brother or sister

Give siblings permission to enjoy and live their own lives

Role model for your sibling child doing things that you enjoy and encourage them with their aspirations

Celebrate siblings’ achievements

List the things your sibling child has achieved recently and have a treat or special ritual to make this with them

Download the YoungSibs booklist