Nursery World - Family benefit

The brothers and sisters of sick or disabled children have their own unique needs. Sarah Barrell explains how best to support them and their families Siblings - why do we hear that word spoken so often with anxiety, frustration or confusion? The brothers and sisters of sick or disabled children were once few and far between, but with constant developments in medical and nursing technology the number of sick children has increased and so, therefore, has the number of brothers and sisters.

Siblings - why do we hear that word spoken so often with anxiety, frustration or confusion? The brothers and sisters of sick or disabled children were once few and far between, but with constant developments in medical and nursing technology the number of sick children has increased and so, therefore, has the number of brothers and sisters.

These children, who have considerable needs of their own, are a cause for concern, and staff in childcare, hospital and educational settings often find it difficult to know how to cope.

Neglected needs

It is a tragic fact that although siblings' needs were recognised a long time ago, research and long-standing support programmes have been limited.

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