Group activities – relieving isolation

My world

This is a good activity to undertake with siblings in the first session of a group. It allows siblings the opportunity to express what they value in their life and a good way to introduce them to discussing aspects of their lives. It is also a way to focus on the sibling as individuals.

You will need

A large plate, coloured pens and paper and any other material for decorating the picture. For example sequins, stickers and feathers.

How to do it

• Talk to siblings that the fact that the focus in their families can often be on their disabled brother or sister, and that you want to find out about their own lives and what interests them.
• Ask siblings to draw a circle using the plate as a guide.
• This is their world on which they can represent their life. Siblings then imagine floating over their world and draw and write what they might see. The group leader can provide ideas of areas to cover such as: My favourite colour; my best friend; things I do after school; my pets; things I am good at; my favourite TV programme; my hobbies; my family; and my favourite music group.
• Talk to the siblings about the things that are important to them, asking questions and pointing out what they have in common with other siblings in the group.
• Siblings could also think of three wishes and place the wishes in a rocket that is heading towards their world

Hand of support

This activity helps siblings identify people in their lives who make up their support network and whom they can ask for help when they need it.

You will need

Coloured paper, paints, pens, stickers & other decorating materials.

How to do it

• As a group discuss with siblings the idea of a support network – the people who will be there to help us when times get tough. For example, mum, dad, family members, social workers, teachers, nurses, sibling workers, friends – ask the siblings to shout out their ideas.
• Siblings draw around their hand onto the coloured paper and then cut out the hand shape. One side they decorate with a pattern or craft materials to make a lovely picture that they would want to look at again. On the other side they write down the name of the specific people who support them – one person on each finger and also the phone number for that person if appropriate.
• The hand is then ready to be taken home and hung on the wall with the pattern showing outwards. When the sibling is concerned and needs to talk to someone they can then turn it over and look at the people who could help them.