Info
RxSiblings of Children With Illness
or Disability
The sibling relationship can be complicated. There are extra challenges and stressors when a sibling has an illness or disability. The resources below can help parents provide support to their children and help children understand their complex feelings.
Web Content
For Parents
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Alberta Children's Hospital – Helping Siblings Cope
Parents can help their child cope and prepare for a sibling’s surgery with these tips from Alberta Children's Hospital.
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Sick Kids Hospital – About Kids Health
About Kids Health gives parents advice for how to help their child cope when a sibling is in the hospital. Egalement disponible en français.
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The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia – Brothers + Sisters: Tools to Help Children When a Sibling is Sick
This booklet was created to help parents help their children cope with a sibling's diagnosis. There is information and tips for a variety of age ranges.
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Healthy Children - American Academy of Pediatrics
Healthy Children, a website provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents has articles about how disabilities and chronic illnesses can impact the family. There are two articles Siblings of Children with Chronic Illnesses or Disabilities and How Chronic Illness or Disability Affects a Family that parents may find useful. También disponible en español.
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Nemours Foundation – Kids Health
Kids Health provides easy to read and doctor reviewed articles on a variety of health topics. Parents can read about how to care for siblings of children with special needs or serious illness. También disponible en español.
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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Sibling Death and Childhood Traumatic Grief: Information for Families
The death of a child takes a toll on a family. This resource helps families and siblings cope with their grief.
For more information about Children's Grief please see the Children's Grief RX.nctsn.org/resources/sibling-death-and-childhood-traumatic-grief-information-families
For Siblings
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Sibling Support Project
The Sibling Support Project is dedicated to brothers and sisters of those with special health, developmental, and mental health concerns. Siblings can access online groups or read publications about sibling issues. Brothers and sisters can also find local Sibshops support groups.
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Nemours Foundation – Kids Health - When a Sibling Is Seriously Ill
Kids Health provides easy to read and doctor reviewed articles on a variety of health topics. This article written for teens provides coping tips for when a sibling is seriously ill.
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Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) – Straight Talk About Mental Illness: Information for Siblings
This information page for siblings helps children and youth understand mental illness.
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Must-Watch Video: Teens With Special Needs Siblings Explain Why #MySisterMatters
Three teenagers share their experiences growing up with a sibling with special needs in this powerful video.
parents.com/health/special-needs-now/must-watch-video-teens-with-special-needs-siblings-explain-why/
For information about specific health conditions check out the rest of the information prescriptions.
Book List
These resources are available to borrow at the Family & Community Resource Centre. You can also check with your local library or with The Alberta Library for the availability of these resources.
You can download, print, and share this list.
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What About Me? : When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick
When a sibling gets sick children experience many different feelings. They may feel guilt about having somehow caused the illness, fear that the sibling will die, anger over being left out, anxiety about catching the sickness, and longing for life to return to the way it was. This story is about how one girl copes with her brother's illness.
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Views From Our Shoes : Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs
This book is a collection of personal essays written by 45 different siblings. Each child shares their unique experiences of what it is like to live with a siblings who has a disability.
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Siblings 40 different families share their stories of growing up with their brother or sister with special needs, disability, or serious illness in this book. Each story also has a helpful tip for siblings.
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Siblings : You're Stuck With Each Other, So Stick Together
Written for kids, this guide book provides siblings strategies for getting along and improving their relationship. Pages 106-107 specifically address having a sibling with special needs. Ages 8-10.
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This is the story of a twelve-year-old girl who wants a normal life while living with her brother who has autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules — from a peach is not a funny-looking apple to keep your pants on in public! — in order to head off his embarrassing behaviours.
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Upside Down and Backwards : A Sibling's Journey Through Childhood Cancer
Bryce’s sister Paige is diagnosed with cancer. This book follows his experiences and deals with his feelings as his family's focus turn toward her. Includes note to readers.
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Teenaged or adult siblings of someone with a disability will find this guidebook helpful. Note: Some of the information, including information about insurance, taxes, finances, and legalities is specific to America.
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Siblings : How to Handle Sibling Rivalry to Create Lifelong Loving Bonds
Siblings addresses issues that parents face when parenting multiple children. This book provides parents advice for nurturing the relationship between siblings. Chapter 21 addresses siblings with special needs.
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Siblings Without Rivalry : How To Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
Faber and Mazlish give parents tools to help their children have a happy relationship with each other. They also provide advice for how to treat children fairly while considering each child’s circumstances.
Siblings of Children With Illness or Disability Collection
Contributors
Thank you to our friends from CAYAC and Pediatric Child Life Services for their contributions.
Current as of: May 03, 2021