"What we can do as parents and professionals is look past the behavior."

Helping Hands: Resources for Parents Supporting Siblings in Healthcare Situations

I remember the first time I saw the impact of a sibling's illness on a family. It was heart-wrenching to watch as the older sibling hesitantly chose a toy to play with in the hospital playroom. As a Child Life On Call specialist, I've learned valuable strategies to support siblings in healthcare situations. But what surprised me was the positive transformation that happened when we involved siblings every step of the way. By providing age-appropriate information and emotional support, we strengthened bonds and alleviated misunderstandings. The unexpected twist? Seeing the siblings become stronger together. Now, as I continue to support families, I'm reminded of the remarkable resilience of siblings. And I can't wait to see where their journey takes them next.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover effective ways to support siblings during healthcare situations.

• Learn how to provide accurate and helpful information to siblings in a way that is easy to understand.

• Unlock the secrets to fostering better communication between family members.

• Gain insights into addressing the emotional needs of siblings in difficult times.

• Explore techniques for normalizing the hospital experience to lessen sibling anxiety.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:21 - Introduction, 00:01:58 - Communication with Siblings, 00:06:02 - Emotional Needs of Siblings, 00:09:33 - Normalize the Experience for Siblings, 00:11:12 - Conclusion,

Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe

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Meet the host: 

Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.

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