The sibling of a mentally challenged child may feel extra pressure on him, either to take care of his sibling or do the activities that his sibling cannot. Even if the parents are not putting the pressure on the child, he may feel like they are. The child may also feel lost or ignored, thinking that all of the attention is being directed at the mentally challenged sibling. Parents should be aware of signs that the child needs help or more one-on-one time, such as headaches and stomachaches, or if the child strives for perfection and has poor concentration or self-esteem.
K12 Special Needs Give Your Children The Education They Deserve--At Home--With K12! www.K12.com/Ohio
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/82908-emotional-effects-having-mentally-challenged/#ixzz1w0uW1lIw
****GREAT ARTICLE-breaks feelings down into ages 3-17
http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pdf/44897.pdf
I haven't given much thought to the pressure that a sibling might face because the other child cannot perform them due to his/her disability. Good thoughts. I also could see how this would cause physical wear and stress on a sibling's body because of the pressure to perform to "make up for" the sibling with a disability.
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