Sibling relationships are the longest human relationships of our lives; they outlast our parents and many modern day marriages too which is why wherever possible, it’s important to maintain an unyielding bond.
Unfortunately for adopted or fostered children, keeping the sibling relationship alive is easier said than done. Although keeping in touch with their siblings gives adopted children a sense of permanence, the reality is that this just isn’t possible for thousands of children who are adopted each year.
Many children are placed in foster care with siblings sent to multiple foster families or adopted by separate couples on different sides of the country. In these instances the separation can prove to be traumatising for children. Let’s take a look at some plausible ways to keep the sibling bond alive and solve this widespread problem.
Meeting Up
It might not always be convenient to arrange regular catch ups with your child’s sibling- perhaps they live far away or their family lifestyle is in stark contrast to yours. Regardless, try and make extra effort with special occasions such as birthdays as these are some of the most memorable occasions for children.
The Digital Age
The great thing about having so much technology at our feet is how easy it is to stay in touch. Allowing your child to Skype with their sibling once a week or exchange emails will allow them to keep up to date with each other when meeting up is unachievable.
Moving Closer
If you have the option, moving geographically closer to your siblings is one way of keeping the relationship sturdy. Enrolling the children in the same school or living within walking distance of each other will keep them stimulated and enable the siblings to stay in regular, physical contact with one another.
Adopting the Other Siblings
If the other siblings are still in foster care then one option is to adopt the siblings to keep the family unit close. This could be a particularly good idea if you are looking to adopt more children but also if the child has come into your care reasonably late, the likelihood is they will have already formed inseparable bonds with their blood siblings.
Of all the options, adopting the child’s siblings is the most natural way to nurture their relationship; although it’s understandable that this is not always possible.
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