The time, care, and attention that go into meeting the needs of a child with disabilities or complex medical needs can be daunting at times, and responsibilities are often shared with the whole family, including siblings. It can be a unique experience for each family, but there’s a special monthly gathering where these siblings can have fun, meet new friends, and find someone their own age who can relate to their situation.
SibShops offer support for brothers and sisters of kids with disabilities, including those with complex medical needs, or mental health concerns. These gatherings offer educational programming and fun activities like cooking, crafts, and games, as well as a safe space for kids to come and be kids, with peer support.
Jessika Boles, Ph.D.
“In addition to being a sibling of two brothers with developmental and behavioral needs, I’ve had the privilege of working with children and families of all abilities and conditions as a child life specialist for more than 16 years,” said Jessika Boles, Ph.D., Vanderbilt Kennedy Center member and assistant professor of Practice in the Department of Psychology and Human Development, who serves as a certified SibShops facilitator.
“Siblings can play such unique roles in their families – whether being helpers, peacemakers, or even comic relief – but sometimes they have less time and space to shine in their own light. SibShops gives siblings a way to share their experiences, meet other siblings who understand those experiences, and, most importantly, the freedom to feel their feelings and have fun at the same time!”
SibShops have a wide-ranging reach, with small groups offered through universities, hospitals, and community centers across North America as well as in numerous countries around the world.
Vanderbilt SibShops meetings are held one Saturday morning each month, from August to April, on the Vanderbilt University campus.
“When we plan our activities for each month, we try to create a mix of activities that appeal to different interests, like emotional expression, physical movement, art or constructive play, cooking, and games that require individual effort and teamwork,” said Boles. “We make sure there is something fun for everyone, and we are always ready to change and adapt our activities in the moment to meet the children’s moods, needs, and passions.”
Boles emphasized the importance of creating a safe space for participants and providing these kids with an opportunity to be the main focus during their time together.
“We work really hard to help SibShops attendees know that they can share difficult feelings or experiences that they may not know how to share elsewhere,” she said. “I wish parents and caregivers knew that, more often than not, their children want to tell us about the wonderful and special things that their sibling with a disability loves or can do; they are proud to let us know who their sibling is, and how their family works together to take care of everyone. Of course, there’s always a hiccup here and there when vying for attention or experiencing typical sibling disputes, but these kids really love and acknowledge how having a sibling with a disability or medical need has made their life richer and their family stronger.”
For more information on attending an upcoming SibShops gathering, email VanderbiltSibShops@vanderbilt.edu.
