Since children with autism require plenty of their parents’ time and attention, siblings often feel left out. Siblings can be affected by conflicting emotions—they may feel protective of their brother or sister, but also jealous that the child with autism is getting most of the attention. To build strong relationships, siblings need some one-on-one time with a parent. By putting the focus on the sibling, and making him or her feel special, the sibling will be less likely to feel resentful of the child with autism.
An ABA therapist can help siblings understand why children with autism act the way they do. Therapists and parents can also help siblings learn how to play and interact with each other, as children with autism often need extra help to acquire play skills.
At The Behavior Exchange, we understand that siblings can have trouble coping with the symptoms of autism. Give us a call at (888) 716-8084, and an ABA therapist near Plano will discuss how we can help balance the family dynamic .