The Typical Sibling

Designed for school personnel, service providers, or parent groups, “See Me, Too” focuses on understanding the needs of children who have a brother or sister with a significant special need. It’s free and tailored to your group.

The need

When a family has a child with a significant special need, everyone’s life changes. While it’s often not discussed and sometimes missed, the impact on typical siblings is significant and, unaddressed, can have long-term implications.

Typical sibling’s needs are often set aside as the parental time, energy, and resources focus on the special needs child. The presence of caregivers and therapists, constant appointments, and restricted family activities redefine home life. Faced with a loss of normalcy and attention, the sibling often feels resentment, anger, jealously, neglect, or anxiety toward the sibling with special needs and the parents.

Some withdraw, unwilling to have a normal social life, because they are embarrassed and don’t know how to explain their sibling’s behavior to their friends. Or they’ve witnessed intolerance and bullying. Others mature beyond their years, taking on some caregiver’s responsibilities or worry about the future. Still others perceive pressure to excel in academics, sports, or behavior, to be the “model” child.

But they also have love and compassion for their sibling and feel guilty about their negative feelings. Dealing with these complicated emotions, while managing the normal challenges and changes of growing up, often leads to emotional and academic struggles. Yet, many try to go it alone rather than discuss with a parent, teacher, or other adults in their life.

The program

Although the need for a support network for typical siblings is real, there is a lack of education about the conflicting emotions they experience and the impact on their development. Facilitated by Maria Trozzi, this interactive program on the unique needs of typical siblings is designed for school personnel, service providers, and parents.

Presentations are tailored to your group for as short as 30-minutes to two hours.

What you’ll learn

• How to identify red flags or warning signs that the typical sibling needs help
• Understanding the needs of typical siblings
• Tips to help typical siblings build confidence, learn coping skills, and improve
  relationships
• Parenting the typical sibling
• Resources for information and support