Example Schedule

The schedule for each brother-and-sister workshop could be different due to time and the ages of your participants. Here's an example of what your schedule may look like!

First 15 minutes: Icebreaker

5 minutes: Welcome; Divide older and younger brothers and sisters

            Welcome and go over rules (confidentiality, bathrooms, respecting each other)

25 minutes: Understanding Down Syndrome

Here, participate in interactive exercise to become more knowledgeable about Down syndrome.

         For participants aged 10 and up:

Activity: Question and Answer Box

Activity: Down syndrome Jeopardy game

For participants under 10 years old:

Activity: What do we know about Down syndrome?

Talk about the characteristics of Down syndrome, learning style, other necessary and relevant facts to Down syndrome.

15 minutes: Break

1 hour: What We Think and How We Feel

Here, meet other brothers and sisters who have shared similar experiences, joys, and frustrations.

         For participants aged 10 and up:

Activity: brothers/sisters describe feelings

         Activity: Dot-on-the-back game

         Activity: Things parents should know

         Activity: Disability Pictionary

For participants under 10 years old:

Activity: Art activity with a focus on feelings or ways brothers and sisters are different and alike compared to their sibling with Down syndrome

15 minutes: Break

45 minutes: What We Think and How We Feel, continued

            Activity: Finished answering any other questions in the box

If there are a lot of young ones, consider holding a shorter workshop.

Check out our must do’s!

We've divided our Must Do's into sections for younger and older brothers and sisters, but one Must Do for everyone is purchasing Brian's and Sue's book, Fasten Your Seatbelt: A Crash Course on Down Syndrome for Brothers and Sisters. This book provides great resources for topics that brothers and sisters will want to talk about most!

Have activities available for brothers and sisters to do as everyone is arriving and getting ready to begin. Explain confidentiality at the beginning—what we discuss today won’t be shared with your parents!

  • Establish with the group that they need to be nice to everyone and respect what others say, even if they don’t agree.

  • Have a time to educate participants on the facts of Down syndrome with an age-appropriate activity

    • Cover topics, such as:

      • You can’t catch Down syndrome

      • You are born with Down syndrome

      • People with Down syndrome are more alike than different

      • People with Down syndrome may need more time and help to learn in school

      • People with Down syndrome go on to do great things with their lives and live happily

  • Use activities to address feelings they may have about their brothers and sisters

  • Always do an art project, story, or act something out!

For the older brothers and sisters:

  • Start with an icebreaker to warm people up and make introductions.  Consider the BINGO Activity (find details under Activities section)

  • Establish confidentiality and expectation of respect

  • Down syndrome Jeopardy is a great way to introduce the facts about Down syndrome that every sibling should know (find details under Activities section)

  • Question Box (find details under Activities section)

  • Older brother and sisters often are interested in staying in touch with each other after the end of a workshop. Encourage them to share contact information in whatever manner they feel comfortable (e.g., social media, phone, e-mail). We recommend that they do so directly with each other so that facilitators are not put in the position of transmitting contact details.

  • Older brother and sisters might be interested in these additional resources after the workshop