| Oftentimes it is true that the child that makes the | | | | tell them that you love them. Three little words |
| most noise, gets the most attention. | | | | that mean a lot, but that children need to hear. |
| This is true in a lot of families and moreso in | | | | A special touch or hug that the two of you can |
| families with children with Autism. | | | | share to let them know that you do think about |
| Autistic children also require a lot more time and | | | | them. |
| attention. | | | | The occasional note under their pillow or in their |
| In a family with more than one autistic child, it is | | | | lunchbox to assure them that even when they |
| doubly so. | | | | are not with you, they are in your thoughts. |
| This could lead to a greater risk of sibling rivalry. | | | | These things take but a moment of your time |
| Not for the challenges usually associated with | | | | but could mean the world to a child who already |
| these words but for attention. | | | | feels that they have so little of your time. |
| With the care that Autistic children need, it would | | | | Another thing that you can do if your children are |
| be easy for the unaffected child in the family to | | | | of school age is to ensure that the work that |
| get a little lost in the shuffle. | | | | they bring home from school is not destroyed by |
| Over time, this could lead to the unaffected child | | | | their Autistic sibling. |
| feeling resentful of their Autistic siblings and to | | | | Unfortunately, due to the behaviours that some |
| begin a little attention getting of their own or | | | | children with Autism have, some artwork |
| behaviors. | | | | especially is attractive to them and it may get |
| In time, the stress involved with this internal | | | | ruined. |
| family conflict could lead to a rift that may take a | | | | Make sure that you do have a special place that it |
| lifetime to heal. There are several methods to | | | | can be put where it is out of harms reach. |
| deal with this potential problem before it gets out | | | | The other thing that you can do is obviously talk |
| of hand. | | | | to them about Autism in an age appropriate |
| Each Autistic child is different and each regular | | | | manner. Explain as best you can why their |
| child is different and therefore the way that you | | | | brother or sister does the things that they do. |
| would handle each child is going to depend on their | | | | Encourage them to be open about their feelings. |
| age and personality. | | | | It is okay to dislike something that the Autistic |
| Time needs to be set aside for the sibling of an | | | | child does, but that doesn't mean that they have |
| Autistic child. | | | | to dislike the Autistic child. |
| Their "alone" time with their parents. | | | | Encourage participation in the fun things that the |
| You may need to hire a caregiver or find a friend | | | | family can do as a unit. If the child with Autism is |
| or family member to watch over the Autistic child | | | | unable to handle outings, have a picnic complete |
| during this time. | | | | with cloth and picnic basket on the lawn in the |
| The unaffected sibling needs assurance that | | | | backyard. |
| although their brother or sister gets most of the | | | | Be creative. |
| attention, that they are going to get a share. | | | | By showing the sibling of a child with Autism that |
| It important that you keep your appointment with | | | | the family is important and by having them |
| the child. | | | | understand that their status in the family unit is |
| The outing doesn't have to be anything | | | | by no means undermined by the fact that you |
| spectacular, just something that the two of you | | | | need to spend more time with their siblings, the |
| can share. It can be done with one parent at a | | | | stronger and more secure the child will become. |
| time or with both. | | | | And the less resentful. |
| It is by doing this that you are demonstrating that | | | | This is extremely important. The sibling of a child |
| no matter how busy or hectic things are at | | | | with Autism will quite possibly become the decision |
| home, that he or she is just as important to you. | | | | maker for that Autistic child at some stage in the |
| Another simple way of reassuring the child is to | | | | future. |