A Sibsack is a backpack that comes with helpful and fun items that have been developed to help you talk with your 3-5 year-old(s) about their sibling’s disability. How to discuss a big topic with your young children can seem overwhelming. This kit provides you with a few simple, age-appropriate tools and tips. Each Sibsack includes:
Explore the activities. Enjoy the creativity and interaction it sparks.
What would a kit for children be without a toy? Play is important in relationships between parent and child, and between siblings.
Books can help children value the unique traits and special gifts of each member of their and the world them.
“MY MOMMY AND DADDY TOLD ME THAT NICOLE WAS BORN VERY EARLY AND HER BRAIN GOT HURT. I LOVE NICOLE. I LIKE TO HUG HER.”
— Ben, age 4 (from Views from My Shoes)
Keep in mind that family members may experience the journey of living with someone with a disability differently. Be aware that siblings of any age will experience both positive and negative feelings.
When a child experiences emotional challenge, join them in coming up with ways to cope. Encourage them to talk freely with you, another family member, or a counselor about their concerns. Books are great ways of showing how others come up with ways of coping with challenges.
Sibsacks are brought to you by WisconSibs, Inc, a non-profit based in Appleton, WI dedicated to the interests of sisters and brothers of people with disabilities throughout their life-long journey. A variety of peer-support, informational, and social programs are designed for children, teens, and adults including:
More information can be found at wisconsibs.org. Contact us for information about how we can benefit your family.
Are you interested in learning more about Sibsacks or ordering for yourself or organization? Use the contact form below and we will be in touch shortly.
Address: 211 E Franklin Street | Appleton, WI 54911 PHONE: 920.968.1742 EMAIL: info@wisconsibs.org
©2024 WisconSibs. All rights reserved.
YOU CAN PLAY THIS GAME BY YOURSELF OR WITH OTHERS.
By yourself:
Dump the monkeys onto a flat surface. Pick up one monkey by an arm. Hook the other arm through a second monkey’s arm. Continue making a chain. It is fun to do over and over and time yourself to see how quickly you can pick up all the monkeys.
With others:
One player at a time, pick up one monkey by an arm. Hook the other arm through a second monkey’s arm. Continue making a chain until a monkey is dropped. Count the monkeys on your chain. Then the next person makes a chain and counts the number of monkeys they connected before dropping a monkey.
The player who creates the longest chain wins. If there is a tie, the person who did it fastest wins.
If you have more than one barrel, give each play a barrel of monkeys and race against one another or dump all the monkeys on the floor from all the sets and have players all at the same time create chains. See who makes the longest monkey chain in the shortest time.