Ask a parent to help you framean award, an announcement,
a photo, or a program.
. . . and Bad Days
“I didn’t get picked for the play.”
“I have to wear this cast for a
whole month.”
“My best friend isn’t talking to me.”
“The doctor said I can’t ever eat
anything with gluten in it.”
When something hard or disappointing hap-
pens to sisters and brothers, they’re bound to
feel down, at least for a little while. The good
news about bad news is that there are things
you can do to help your sib feel better.
The best thing you can do is pretty simple:
Just listen. You don’t have to know how to
solve the problem. Sometimes being able to
talk about it helps a person feel better, be-
cause she knows someone cares. Sometimes
thinking out loud helps a person figure out
for himself what he needs to do. And when
a problem is big enough to change a person’s
whole life, talking can help that person get
used to the new way things are going to be.
So let your brother talk if he wants to. And
tell your sister you’re sorry about whatever
happened. If you have ideas about what your
siblings can do, ask if they want to hear them.
But it’s OK to just listen to what your sib has to
say without saying much yourself.
You can also be an even kinder version of your
normal self while your sib is in a slump. Maybe
you can offer to play your brother’s favorite
game with him or let your sister have an extra
cookie or an extra turn. You can do small
favors or let things slide when you usually
wouldn’t. If your sibling doesn’t seem happier
right away, don’t be discouraged. Your acts of
kindness really do make a difference.
Ask a parent for ideas on how to help, too,
especially if it’s something big. Maybe the
doctor said your sister can’t eat certain foods
anymore. Or maybe your brother broke his leg
and has to wear a cast this summer. You and
your parents can come up with ways to help
your sibling not feel left out and get used to
the situation.
Signs of Support
Write a note or draw a picture that lets
your sister know how much you care.
Ask your brother if he’d like to just hang
out with you for a while and talk about
what’s on his mind.
Get a book from the library by your sister’s
favorite author, or a book with information
about her problem.
Give your sibling a hug—and repeat often!
Thoughtful Things
No matter the reason, you can let your sibling know you’re thinking of her
with one of these simple ideas.
Caring Coupons
These are fun to make and even more fun for
the other person to use. Make a list of things
your sister would probably like you to do for
her. Try ideas like “Good for making your bed
one time” or “Good for doing one of your
chores.” Write them on slips of paper, deco-
rated to look like coupons. Tuck them into an
envelope, and give them to your sib.
Personal Poem
Write the letters of your brother’s name
vertically on a piece of paper. Then use each
letter to start a line of a poem about him.
Try to capture his personality and some of
the things you love most about him.
Banner Day
Make signs cheering your brother on to
victory! Write encouraging messages on
colorful pieces of paper. Place them where
he will be happy—or maybe surprised—to
see them. Inside a desk drawer, in his back-
pack, and on the chair where he usually sits
for breakfast are all good places.
Happy Book
Put together a cute little book that your
sister can flip through whenever she needs a
