When you have a child with PDA, so much of your attention can go toward managing dysregulation, meltdowns and keeping everyone safe. But it's important to remember that siblings need support and safety too.
In our home, we created a dedicated safe space for our other daughter. She can go into the room, close and lock the door, and have some time away when things become too much.
We keep the space stocked with things she enjoys—books, fidgets, markers, colouring pages and other activities—so she has somewhere comfortable to go without needing to leave the house.
If safety is a concern, having locks on bedroom doors may also be something to consider, depending on your family's situation. Siblings deserve to know that they have a space where they can feel protected.
We also try, when we can, not to have the girls in the car together when we know it's going to be a particularly difficult day for our PDA child. Sometimes preventing a stressful situation is much easier than trying to manage it once everyone is already overwhelmed.
Most importantly, siblings need to hear:
“Your sibling's needs are important—and so are yours.”
They deserve to feel safe, have their own space, have their own interests and know that they are not responsible for managing their sibling's behaviour.
Supporting a PDA child is a family journey, but every child in the family deserves to feel safe, seen and supported!
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