Planning Schedule/Must-Do’s Topics Activities
REady-To-Go Plans BASIC INFO
Activities
We have used the following activities with great success in our Brother and Sister Workshops. These are only a few examples, though, and hopefully they will inspire you to develop your own activities! For younger brothers and sisters, we want to make sure that the activities are fun, engaging, and connected to topics in a way that encourages the young brothers and sisters to learn and share. For our older brothers and sisters, our activities may be geared more toward discussions that they lead with some help from the facilitators.
After the activities, you may also consider having a time for the younger and older brothers and sisters to come together and learn from one another.
When designing and implementing your own activities, remember these three things:
1. FACTS: Give participants all they need to know about Down syndrome; help them remember relevant facts to different situations.
2. FEELINGS: All feelings are normal and need to be validated and discussed.
3. PROBLEM SOLVING: When talking about brothers' and sisters' greatest questions and concerns, make sure they leave that conversation with some practical steps to solving their problem.
Check out sue’s favorite activities below!
activities for younger participants
ICEBREAKER: Human BINGO
Sensitivity Games: Dot-on-the-Back
Sensitivity Games: Gloves and Coins
Sensitivity Games: Switch Hands
Sensitivity Games: How can you help your sibling with difficult tasks?
Sensitivity Games: Spelling Test
Sensitivity Games: Can’t Keep Up!
activities for older participants
ICEBREAKER: Human BINGO
Things parents/others should know
Sensitivity Games: Dot-on-the-Back
Sensitivity Games: Gloves and Coins
Sensitivity Games: Switch Hands
Sensitivity Games: How can you help your sibling with difficult tasks?
Human bingo
Supplies Needed:
Copies of the BINGO sheet for each participant
Writing utensil for each participant (a choice of a colored marker has always been popular)
Small token reward as participants finish.
We would recommend against sugared rewards
Consider, instead, stickers, squish balls, light-up rings, etc.
Age group: All ages
Lessons learned:
Participants will get to know each other, particularly names
Participants will foster personal connections that can set the stage for more sharing later in the workshop
This is a great activity to have brothers and sisters do as they arrive. If you have very young participants, who don't read or write yet, you may want to provide some other games available for them to entertain themselves with.
For this activity, give brothers and sisters a “human bingo board” that has different facts people may have about themselves. Brothers and sisters can use this board and its questions to ask people things about themselves and get to know one another! When someone finds another person who has that fact true for themselves, they write their name on your paper, in that question’s square. You can give this to brothers and sisters as they’re coming in and play with everyone until you’re ready to begin your Workshop. Whoever gets all the blanks filled gets a prize!
For example, here are some human bingo questions:
“Has blue eyes” “Likes to sing in the shower” “Likes Italian food” “Likes baseball” “Can whistle”
As a participant, if I found someone who had blue eyes, they would sign their name on that square on my bingo board. Once I have a different name for each question, I win a prize!
Reading a story
Supplies Needed:
A children's book that will prompt conversation about Down syndrome. There are many to choose from. Find your book by clicking here!
Age group: Under 10 years old
Lessons learned:
Participants will get to know facts and experiences of Down syndrome
Facilitators should use this activity as an opportunity to teach brothers and sisters about Down syndrome, factually and from practical experience. Participants should use this activity to address some facts, feelings, and difficult moments about Down syndrome. Some important facts can be found in the Activities for Older Participants section of this site, specifically in the Jeopardy game. In our Topics sections, you can learn about commonly experienced feelings from brothers and sisters. Facilitators can also use this to begin discussions about brothers' and sisters' individual experiences of having a sibling with Down syndrome.
Question box
Supplies Needed:
Index cards
Markers/pens
Shoe box
Age Group: All ages, but should group similar ages
Lessons learned:
Participants will have the freedom to ask questions about Down syndrome and their sibling, specifically, that they may not normally ask
Participants will get accurate answers to their questions about Down syndrome, learning good facts
Participants will benefit from the discussion and requisite growth around a particular topic
The Question Box is a great activity that gives brothers and sisters the opportunity to anonymously write any questions they have about their sibling on an index card and drop it into a shoe box or bag positioned in the room. You may want to start with a time to write some questions down at the beginning of the Workshop and then follow up with some designated time throughout the rest of the Workshop. Brothers and sisters should also know that they can write questions throughout the Workshop, outside of the designated times, as well. It will be important to leave the index cards and pencils out for participants to use through the Workshop. At other times throughout the Workshop, assemble the brothers and sisters into a circle (different circles for each age group). Ask one of the participants to pull a question and read it out loud, and then you can ask for some advice from the other participants. Oftentimes, siblings can help each other and answer their own questions! Other times, you might need to jump in and offer some direction or reflections. Use these questions as opportunities to talk about some larger topics that are important to brothers and sisters. Make sure you create a safe environment so that brothers and sisters feel safe to share their thoughts and ask any questions there that they may have. This is a Must Do!
Similarities and differences
Supplies Needed:
Depending on which variation of the activity you do, you may need paper to make snowflakes or different materials to make gingerbread people or snowmen.
Age Group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants discuss strengths and weaknesses of themselves and their sibling to learn that they are alike.
Participants will get accurate answers to their questions about Down syndrome that may arise as participants discuss differences.
For similarities and differences activities, facilitators can use snowflakes, gingerbread people, snowmen, or something else, to create one snowflake, for example, that represents the brother or sister and another one that represents their sibling with Down syndrome. This will allow participants to visually see how they've created two things to have some similarities and some differences based upon how they see themselves to be similar and different to their sibling with Down syndrome. Also talk about the ways in which participants are similar and different to their siblings. For example, they may share the same hair or eye color, or they may have the same favorite TV show. They may have differences within their favorite sports, how fast they learn, and favorite teacher or subject in school. This will then prompt discussion about how the brother or sister, specifically, is similar or different to their sibling with Down syndrome, how everyone has similarities and differences, and how that is a good thing! They can discuss positive and negative qualities of themselves and their siblings, which may bring up some topics that we have addressed under our Topics section of the website.
Difficult moments
Supplies Needed:
Paper bags
Facial feature art pieces (googly eyes, etc.)
Markers, crayons, etc.
Popsicle sticks
Other decorations!
Age Group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants explore negative experiences and feelings with their sibling.
Participants learn it’s okay to talk about the difficult moments that their siblings and they, themselves, may sometimes experience because of how they are acting.
While there are many good times, all sibling relationships have difficult moments. To better examine some of those times when your brother or sister can really make you angry, try making monsters! You can make paper bag puppets, or as in the photo above, you can have each child make a set of eyes and a mouth. Pre-cut the shapes and supply markers, crayons, etc., so that they can decorate. Add a Popsicle stick to the eyes and another to the mouth so they can be more easily held up to the fact to sue as a mask. Note the mouth can be held either with the smile or the frown. Have the children talk about when their sibling acts like a monster. Similarly, have the children say when they act like monsters to other family members!
What makes you special
Supplies Needed:
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Writing utensils
Age Group: Under 10 years old
Lessons learned:
Participants have an opportunity to realize what makes them special to encourage themselves, as well as what makes their sibling special to help appreciate them even in the tough times
Participants will get accurate answers to their questions about Down syndrome that may arise as participants discuss what makes their sibling special.
For these activities, participants may enjoy creating a flower or a turkey (if your workshop happens near Thanksgiving!) or something similar that allows participants to write on petals, feathers, etc., qualities of themselves and their sibling that make them special. You could choose to have siblings create one flower for themselves and one for their sibling (similar to the similarities and differences activity), or you could have one flower that represents all of the good qualities for the sibling team, so they can see how special they are together.
These special qualities may not always be positive, so be prepared to talk with your brothers and sisters about some of their negative feelings they have about their sibling. For example, someone may say that their sibling's special quality is not having to do the same chores around the house. In that case, you will want to have read our resources for "feelings of unequal treatment" on this site, to ensure you are prepared for the discussion.
Let's act it out
Supplies Needed:
Paper bags, enough for each participant to have two or more, depending on how many children are in the family
Markers/pens, other things to decorate with, like yarn, glitter, paper cut-outs of glasses, noses, etc.
Scissors
Glue
Lessons learned:
Participants will have the ability to walk through a situation in a way that allows them to gain some validation for their feelings and experiences, as well as learn some practical problem-solving strategies.
Participants will benefit from the discussion and requisite growth around a particular topic.
Brothers and sisters will be able to make a paper bag hand puppet that represents themselves and another that represents their sibling with Down syndrome (they may want to make another one for another sibling). Brothers and sisters can act out a good and bad interaction they have had with their sibling. This will encourage brothers and sisters to share in the good and bad experiences they have with their sibling. It will serve as a great jumping off point to launch the group into discussion about brothers' and sisters' experiences that may require some problem-solving, and also ones that require celebration! Facilitators should be prepared to talk about a lot of different situations and feelings; they can prepare by looking through the Topics section of this site!
Another activity that can be done to "act it out," is to have the brothers and sisters act out funny, happy, and/or difficult moments that occur with their friends or with their siblings' friends. This may help address situations that arise because the brothers' and sisters' friends don't understand Down syndrome that can often be pretty stressful for our brothers and sisters. For example, a brother or sister may act out one of their friends using the 'r-word'. How do they react? What can they do? What do they feel--are those feelings okay? Or, they may act out their sibling trying to play with friends on the playground, but the other kids don't understand what their sibling is trying to do. How do they feel? How do they handle the situation? Why do other people act this way?
Feelings- Happy, Sad & Mad
Supplies Needed:
Paper or stick puppets
Writing utensils
If younger group, have a "feelings board" that can be found here!
Age group: Under 10 years old
Lessons learned:
Participants will find a new way of expressing and understanding their feelings about their sibling.
Participants will have the opportunity to talk with other siblings, as well as the facilitator, about their feelings and find ways to help tough situations.
There are a few ways you can do this activity:
1. Help the participants fold a paper into three columns. At the top of each column, make a happy, sad, and mad face. Discuss with the participants when they feel happy, sad, or mad about their sibling with Down syndrome. Do the same for when the brother or sister thinks they make their sibling happy, mad, or sad.
2. Make stick puppets that each represent happy, sad, or mad emotion. Then, use these to help brothers and sisters express what makes them happy, sad, or mad that their sibling does. Do the same for when the brother or sister thinks they make their sibling happy, mad, or sad.
Reassure them that their feelings are normal and okay, using some resources as outlined in the Topics section. Provide some steps for brothers and sisters to take when they’re feeling really mad or have a big problem with their sibling. They should always be encouraged to go to their parents and try to look at the situation differently. More specific steps can also be found in the Topics section of this site.
How do you cope?
Supplies Needed:
Small rocks, pebbles
Markers
Paint
Age group: Under 10 years old
Lessons learned:
Participants will find a new way of expressing and understanding their feelings about their sibling.
Participants learn some practical skills to help deal with some stressful situations that they can take back home with them.
For this activity, have participants first begin by talking about some stressful or uncomfortable situations. Talk about the emotions that these situations evoke. Then, talk about how the brothers and sisters cope with these situations. They will all likely have different ways of coping, and that is great! Everyone can have the opportunity to learn from one another. Have the participants then paint the rocks and write or draw on them something that signifies to them their coping strategy. They can take the rocks/pebbles home or to school or wherever will serve them best, to help them remember that others have similar experiences, as well as some good strategies to use whenever they're in these situations!
disability pictionary
Supplies Needed:
Pictionary topic cards
Paper
Writing utensils
Age group: All ages, but should group similar age groups
Lessons Learned:
Participants will learn people-first language
Participants will learn empathy and understanding of other disabilities
Play a game of Pictionary disability-style by making all of the questions about disability! This is a great opportunity to practice teaching people-first language, too. To prepare, write the following words each on a separate index card:
· Chromosome
· Wheelchair
· Seeing eye dog (guide dog)
· Special Olympics
· Hearing aid
· Translocation Down syndrome chromosomes
Ask the group to divide into two teams. Alternate between teams, inviting one person up to be the illustrator. Show them one of the cards privately, and they then would have 60 seconds to draw without using any verbal cues. If their teammates are able to guess the word, then they would score one point.
At some point, a participant might blurt out a phrase that is not in People First language. Use this as an opportunity to take a mini-break to discuss the pdf below.
After you have had enough back-and-forth rounds, ask each team to assemble and write one word on a card, which will be used for the Final Round for the other team. For example, if Team 1 were to write, “occupational therapist,” you would then present this card to Team 2 during the Final Round. Points can be tripled during the Final Round!
Sensitivity Games: Dot-on-the-back
Supplies Needed:
Stickers in groups
If you have 12 participants, 4 green stickers/princess stickers/etc., 4 red stickers/car stickers/etc., and 4 yellow stickers/monster stickers/etc.
Index card with disability written on it
Any extra things to create disability, i.e. blind fold to create blindness
Age group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will learn about other disabilities
Participants will gain empathy for their siblings and others
Participants will get to know one another, as their teamwork and communication is necessary to successfully complete this activity
In this game, leaders should take stickers of about three different colors that have stuck to them an index card with a certain inability written on it. The stickers and index cards will be put on brothers and sisters, and then they must assume their particular inability. Some examples are this are the following: not being able to move, not being able to walk, not being able to talk, not being able to see or hear, etc. They must get in groups according to their matching stickers while also acting within their various disabilities as written on the index cards. This is a great game to help brothers and sisters understand what some of their siblings may be experiencing.
Sensitivity Games: Gloves & Coins
Supplies Needed:
A pair of mittens for each participant
Coins
Age groups: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will gain understanding and empathy for their siblings
The empathy gained here will promote understanding and patience for siblings
For this game, brothers and sisters need to put on a pair of mittens and try to pick up coins. This will help brothers and sisters to understand what some of their siblings may be experiencing in difficulties with fine motor skill development.
Sensitivity Games: Switch hands
Supplies Needed:
Depending on what version of this activity...
Fork/spoon
Writing utensil
Ball to kick or throw
Age group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will gain understanding and empathy for their siblings
The empathy gained here will promote understanding and patience for siblings
In this game, brothers and sisters will need to do various tasks using their non-dominant hand. These tasks can be eating, writing their names, throwing or kicking a ball, etc. This will help brothers and sisters to understand what some of their siblings may be experiencing.
Sensitivity Games: How can you help your sibling with difficult tasks?
Supplies Needed:
Paper
Writing utensil
Age group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will gain empathy and understanding for their sibling
Participants will be able to learn practical things they can do to help their sibling
Participants will gain information about Down syndrome and how it affects their sibling
In this game, brothers and sisters should brainstorm ideas of how to best help their sibling through what can sometimes be some very difficult situations, as well as think about what will help your sibling learn more easily. Here is some advice on strategies that is also outlined in our Topics section on this site.
· Being shown what to do first
· Using a hand-over-hand technique to complete a task like handwriting or brushing teeth
· Having a peer buddy in the classroom
· Getting extra help from the teacher
· Smaller class sizes, etc.
This will help brothers and sisters think through situations that will give them practical skills to apply with their siblings to guide them through some of what are usually frustrating tasks.
Sensitivity Games: Spelling test
Supplies Needed:
Paper
Spelling words for leader
Writing utensil
Age group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will gain empathy for their siblings and others, especially in an academic context.
In this game, leaders should have a list of spelling words that they ask participants to write down on their paper. Have participants number their papers 1-10. Then, instead of saying the spelling word, sign it! Talk about how confused they feel with the words presented in that fashion. Discuss when their sibling might feel this way in a school setting.
Sensitivity Games: Can't Keep up
Supplies Needed:
String, yarn
Age group: All ages, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will gain empathy for their siblings and others, especially in regards to mobility needs.
In this game, leaders should tie string around participants’ legs, so that their legs are tied loosely together. You may also pair up someone with their legs tied and someone without their legs tied. Have the person without their legs tied together walk at a normal pace so that the other participant can experience what it may be like to not be able to keep up with someone else because of your body’s physical needs and movement. Then participants can switch roles! Talk about how frustrating it might feel not to be able to keep up with someone walking normally.
Down syndrome Jeopardy
Supplies Needed:
Jeopardy board (can be virtual from a projector or on poster board)
Facilitator’s copy of questions and answers
Age group: Ages 10 and up, but will want to group similar ages for fair experience
Lessons learned:
Participants will learn important facts about Down syndrome in a fun, memorable way
This a great activity to use with brothers and sisters to teach them some good facts and FAQ’s about Down syndrome. You may want to adjust the questions for the age of the participants. If your brothers and sisters are too young for this activity, see the activity titled “Similar and Different: Sibling Drawings.” Use the topics covered in this game as a jumping off point for further discussion about what Down syndrome actually is.
Please see the attached pdf with good jeopardy questions and answers about Down syndrome.
For more information about the facts and science of Down syndrome, check out Dr. Brian Skotko’s and Sue Levine’s book, Fasten your Seatbelt: A Crash Course on Down Syndrome for Brothers and Sisters, Chapter 1, Gearing Up to Go: getting the facts about Down syndrome!
Feelings-Happy, Sad & mad
Supplies Needed:
Paper
Writing utensil
Age group: Ages 10 and up, but should group similar ages together
Lessons learned:
Participants will find a new way of expressing and understanding their feelings about their sibling
Participants will have the opportunity to talk with other siblings, as well as the facilitator, about their feelings and find ways to help tough situations
The facilitator can take a piece of paper and record every emotion the brothers and sisters have ever had about their sibling--good, bad, whatever! Then the group can talk about the different feelings and why people feel that way. What emotion do you feel most often? What feeling is the most difficult to deal with?
For younger participants within this age range, you can have them draw faces that are most meaningful to them on their paper, which represent these emotions. They can also do the reverse, where they talk about some emotions they may have caused for their sibling. They can find similarities between themselves and their sibling by engaging in this exercise.
Another option is to have participants make a complete list of any feeling they have ever felt about their sibling with Down syndrome--good or bad! Then, the group can discuss the situations surrounding these feelings and talk about some important topics to brothers and sisters. Make sure to read up on some important topics for brothers and sisters by visiting our Topics pages!
How do you cope?
Supplies Needed:
Small rocks, pebbles
Paper
Index cards--enough for each participant
Markers
Paint
Age group: Ages 10 and up
Lessons learned:
Participants will find a new way of expressing and understanding their feelings about their sibling.
Participants learn some practical skills to help deal with some stressful situations that they can take back home with themselves.
For this activity, have participants first begin by talking about some stressful or uncomfortable situations. Talk about the emotions that these situations evoke. Then, talk about how the brothers and sisters cope with these situations. They will all likely have different ways of coping, and that is great! Everyone can have the opportunity to learn from one another. Have the participants then paint the rocks and write or draw on them something that signifies to them their coping strategy. They can take the rocks/pebbles home or to school or wherever will serve them best, to help them remember that others have similar experiences, as well as some good strategies to use whenever they're in these situations! If the participants are older and don't want to paint the rocks, they can just write some strategies or doodle some ideas/pictures on some paper or index cards.
Things parents/others should know
Supplies Needed:
Paper
Writing utensil
If you want to film, phone or other camera/video camera
Age group: Ages 10 and up
Lessons learned:
Participants will be given the opportunity to talk about their experiences and learn from one another and the facilitator about these topics, as well as communicate some of their needs to their parents, friends, etc.
Ask brothers and sisters to write and/or record (in some cases, we have filmed the siblings) some things they think their parents should know about being the brother or sister of someone with Down syndrome (may touch on some things under Topics). Additionally or alternatively, they might write about something that they think others should know about Down syndrome in general or specifically their sibling.
This will give brothers and sisters the opportunity to convey both the medical/biological facts of Down syndrome, as well as expressing their personal and practical knowledge that comes from being a sibling and viewing this person with Down syndrome as more than a list of facts and features as defined by their diagnosis.
After everyone has had a chance to work on their own—or in pairs—reassemble as a group to share thoughts. You can use the responses to draw out validations and responses from other participants.
Using the Sibling Slam Book
Supplies Needed:
The Sibling Slam Book by Don Meyer
Age Group: Ages 10 and up
Lessons learned:
Participants discuss common situations and emotions experienced by other brothers and sisters of people with Down syndrome, as well as other disabilities.
Participants will have the opportunity to develop practical problem-solving skills to address these situations in the book that will likely appear in their lives, too.
Participants can take turns passing around The Sibling Slam Book by Don Meyer, flipping to a random page and answering the question or addressing the situation on that page.
Similarities and differences
Supplies Needed:
Paper and drawing utensils
Age Group: Ages 10 and up
Lessons learned:
Participants discuss strengths and weaknesses of themselves and their sibling to learn that they are alike.
Participants will get accurate answers to their questions about Down syndrome that may arise as participants discuss differences.
For participants on the younger spectrum of the age group of 10 and older, they can draw a self portrait and then another portrait of their sibling. They can then use these pictures to prompt discussions of similarities, differences, what makes each of unique, what you like and don't like about your sibling, etc. Also talk about the ways in which participants are similar and different to their siblings. For example, they may share the same hair or eye color, or they may have the same favorite TV show. They may have differences within their favorite sports, how fast they learn, and favorite teacher or subject in school. These questions and prompts can lead to further discussions about various situations and experiences brothers and sisters may find themselves in. Many of these situations and emotions will be covered in the Topics section of this site, so be sure to check that out, so that you're prepared for the conversations that will arise!
Advocacy & Policy Scenarios
Supplies Needed:
Copies of the scenarios for participants
A writing utensil in case participants want to take notes
Age group: 13 and up
Lessons Learned:
Empathy for other siblings’ experiences
Empathy for parents’ experiences
Problem-solving skills
At the bottom of this page, you will find a variety of advocacy and policy scenarios that display a brother or sister in a different, perhaps stressful, situation. These are situations that may often arise for our brothers and sisters. Having the opportunity to think through them here and develop some strategies and opinions will help our brothers and sisters when they get put in these situations in real life.
Some of the scenarios ask the brother or sister to put themselves in the position of the brother/sister in the scenario. For example, “You are walking through Target when all of a sudden, your sister, who has Down syndrome, sits down in the middle of the store. You’re so embarrassed! What can you do next?” The brothers and sisters participating would discuss what next steps the sibling could take in that situation.
Other situations ask the brother or sister participant to put themselves in the position of the parent of someone with and without Down syndrome. This will help the brothers and sisters to gain an understanding for what it’s like to be the parent of someone with Down syndrome. For example, “Your daughter Maria told you that she’s really embarrassed when her sister, Nellie, who has Down syndrome, always has her tongue sticking out. What would you tell Maria?” The brothers and sisters participating would discuss the next steps a parent could take here.
These scenarios will give the facilitator to establish three things:
1. Facts of the situation and Down syndrome
2. Validation and listening of feelings
3. Problem-solving strategies for brothers and sisters,
all of which are vitally important when discussing these situations.
The scenarios below are organized based on topic. Groups may find it more efficient to talk about these scenarios instead of everyone taking time to write a response. Use these scenarios as opportunities to talk more in depth about some of the topics that will be covered in the various situations.
Advocacy Scenarios
Policy Exercises
Graduating Cap and Gown--and Diploma?