Today, we’re celebrating National Siblings Day at RSBC, and shining a light on the very important relationships that siblings have.

We know that, while many young people have a unique and special bond with their vision impaired siblings, growing up alongside them can be tough at times. Sisters and brothers sometimes need our support, too.

And so, our team of Family Practitioners can offer siblings emotional wellbeing support that takes in areas such as:

• Being able to identify their own needs, and communicating them to other people, like their parents
• Understanding their role as a sibling, and as a helper or carer
• Accepting difficult or challenging feelings about their sibling’s circumstances
• Communicating with others about their sibling’s vision needs
• Understanding that their life options might be quite different to their sibling’s

Through the work that our Family Practitioners carry out in supporting parents, we know that many worry about their other child or children, and how growing up with a sibling who has a vision impairment can impact them. Although children will learn important skills as they perform their role as a sibling, there may be times when they feel worried, anxious and isolated.

Here are just a few tips that can help parents navigate this type of situation.

• Try to spend dedicated one-to-one time with siblings
• Limit the caring responsibilities that siblings take on
• Be aware that it might feel unfair to siblings if they’re asked to help out more around the house than their brother or sister
• Give them choice about spending time with their sibling
• Try to create opportunities for siblings to meet and connect with other siblings like them
• Encourage siblings to be independent and make their own plans for the future
• Encourage them to discuss their feelings about their sibling, and acknowledge these feelings, including any negative emotions.

A recent study* showed just how important it is that we allow siblings the opportunity to talk about how they feel. It found that siblings can experience a whole range of emotions, from happiness and empathy to sorrow and sadness.

However, the vast majority of the 33 children and young people who took part in the research showed a special relationship with their brother/sister, characterised by unconditional love and willingness to help.

There couldn’t be a better way to highlight the amazing contribution that siblings make in supporting and helping their blind or partially sighted brothers and sisters than celebrating today. We wish every sibling out there a Happy National Siblings Day!

For further guidance and support, speak to us at RSBC or check out the Sibs website at https://www.sibs.org.uk/

*Battistin T; Zanardo V; Mercuriali E; Bottan I (2023) Being siblings of children with visual impairment British Journal of Visual Impairment 42(1)