School Age Matters E-Newsletter January 2019 5 Ways to Support Siblings in Special Needs Families By Alyson Krueger Does your child with Down syndrome have siblings? If so, read up! This is an article discussing much needed support for siblings. — Joanie 1. Talk openly about the situation Dr. Emanuele says It’s essential for parents to clearly explain what is going on to siblings and answer questions they may have. “Some siblings may not fully understand what is happening with their brother or sister. They may feel guilty about it, that they somehow caused it. Or they may feel like they aren’t as important as their brother or sister because they don’t get as much attention.” It’s essential for parents to listen to concerns the other children may have, and reassure them that you love them. “Let them know, ‘I hear you, I see you,’ ” she added. Parents don’t have to use formal jargon like ADHD or autism or OCD. But they need to describe the behavior that kids might find concerning, and make it clear that it isn’t willful. Kleinhandler found it helpful to explain to her daughters that the disease was just like a bully pressuring their sister to do things she wouldn’t otherwise. Speaking in terms of strengths and weaknesses is often helpful, suggests David Anderson, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “One sibling might have difficulties with emotional dysregulation”—getting emotional or melting down when things don’t go his way, he said. “But another might not be too good at basketball. So maybe your brother gives you a few extra shots in basketball, and he might need some slack because he has difficulty staying calm when you’re playing board games.” It works for parents, he adds, because it avoids targeting the kid with special needs. Joanie Elfers School Age Maers Coordinator [email protected]
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School Age Matters E-Newsletter
January 2019
5 Ways to Support Siblings in
Special Needs Families By Alyson Krueger
Does your child with Down syndrome have siblings? If so, read up! This is an article discussing much needed support for siblings. —Joanie
1. Talk openly about the situation
Dr. Emanuele says It’s essential for parents to clearly explain what is going on to siblings and answer
questions they may have. “Some siblings may not fully understand what is happening with their brother or
sister. They may feel guilty about it, that they somehow caused it. Or they may feel like they aren’t as
important as their brother or sister because they don’t get as much attention.”
It’s essential for parents to listen to concerns the other children may have, and
reassure them that you love them. “Let them know, ‘I hear you, I see you,’ ” she
added.
Parents don’t have to use formal jargon like ADHD or autism or OCD. But they
need to describe the behavior that kids might find concerning, and make it clear
that it isn’t willful. Kleinhandler found it helpful to explain to her daughters that the
disease was just like a bully pressuring their sister to do things she wouldn’t
otherwise.
Speaking in terms of strengths and weaknesses is often helpful, suggests David
Anderson, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “One sibling might
have difficulties with emotional dysregulation”—getting emotional or melting down
when things don’t go his way, he said. “But another might not be too good at
basketball. So maybe your brother gives you a few extra shots in basketball, and
he might need some slack because he has difficulty staying calm when you’re
playing board games.” It works for parents, he adds, because it avoids targeting the kid with special needs.
After you buy your ticket to the dance, you can sign-up for our Let's Get Fancy event for some pre-Winter Dance pampering! Ladies can get their hair, nails and make-up done by professionals. Gentlemen can get their hair gelled,
get tips on how to tie a tie and learn about appropriate cologne application.
After getting *glam*, a limousine will escort the group to the dance in style. Please note, the limo will only transport TO the dance. Participants must have purchased a ticket to the Winter Dance and have a parent/guardian meet
them at the Newport Syndicate.
Friday, February 1 Females arrive at 3:30 PM; Males arrive at 5 PM
4623 Wesley Avenue, Suite A Cincinnati, OH 45212 *ages 15 & up
"Let's Get Fancy" is FREE to attend, but you must RSVP to Emma Ganiban at [email protected]!
There are only 20 spaces available (10 female & 10 male) and will fill on a first come, first serve basis.
the Thomas Center and Colleagues The Thomas Center for Down Syndrome at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce receipt of two federal
research grants supporting children with Down syndrome. Both grants were awarded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Anna Esbensen, PhD, Research Director of the Thomas Center,
received a 5-year, $2.6 million grant to continue her work on evaluating cognitive outcome measures for children 6-17 years with
Down syndrome. If you are interested in more information, please contact us as 513-803-3641 or email Emily Hoffman at
[email protected] (see information flyer below). Dr Esbensen is also collaborating with Angela Thurman, PhD, at the
University of California-Davis MIND Institute, on a 5-year, $3.1 million grant to evaluate language outcomes in children 2-8 years with
Down syndrome. More information will be coming soon on how to participate in this project.
Dr. Susan Wiley, co-director of the Thomas Center for Down Syndrome, also partnered with Drs Raouf Amin and Stacey Ishman from
the Divisions of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine/Sleep Medicine and Pediatric Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital. They received funding to expand their current study on the neurocognitive and school performance effects of
removal of adenoids and tonsils for snoring to focus on children with Down syndrome. This study will enroll children with Down
syndrome undergoing tonsil and adenoid removal for snoring or sleep apnea. This study includes 7 centers across the U.S.
(Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dallas, Boston, Ann Arbor, Norfolk, and Cincinnati). If you are interested in more information, please contact