Sibling carers
Having a sibling with additional needs can lead to some very mixed feelings. Brothers and sisters may feel worried, embarrassed, jealous and sad. You may feel proud of your siblings as they learn new things. There could be times when young carers feel anxious or even scared if they are the target of challenging behaviour.
These feelings are all completely normal.
- “As a young carer I feel tired, but I feel happy my brother has someone by his side because without me, he would not be able to do anything. I help out at home by feeding him through a tube that goes into his belly and helping with his physio on the floor”
- “We have to wait and see if he has had a perfect day because he then won’t be angry”.
We want to recognise the impact children and young people have for supporting their sibling. The support they give to adults providing this care is another form of caring. By taking on extra jobs around the home or reassuring a parent who may be feeling overwhelmed.
Family days out are difficult and can result in having a trip to be cancelled due to a sibling’s needs for example. For lots of siblings, having friends’ round after school can be impossible.
Most of our young carers would not want to swap their brothers or sisters; however, they do want to be recognised for the support they give. It might not look like the caring role adults are taking on but that does not mean it is less valid or valuable.
You're not alone
If you’re a child or young person with a sibling who is disabled, has special educational needs, or a long-term health condition, you’re not alone.