Because of the
nature of autism, it is usually difficult for a young child to form a satisfying relationship with a brother or sister who has the disorder. For example, child's attempts to play with his/her brother are probably rebuffed by his ignoring her, fall flat because of his lack of play skills, or end abruptly because his tantrums are frightening. How many of us would keep trying to form a friendship with someone who turned her back when we spoke to her, or, even worse, seemed angry when we approached?
It is not surprising that young children may become discouraged by the reactions they encounter and seek their playmates elsewhere.
The good news is that young children can be taught simple skills that will enable them to engage their brother or sister in playful interactions. Research has shown that siblings can learn basic teaching strategies to engage their brother or sister with
autism. These skills included things like making sure they had their brother's attention, giving simple instructions, and praising good play. One research study showed that videotapes made before and after the children learned these skills showed in a very touching manner that, after training, they played together more and seemed much happier than they had been prior to training