Research by educational psychologist Linda Veerman shows that siblings of children with disabilities – in Dutch referred to as “brussen” - also need extra support. These children are at higher risk for mental health problems, sometimes experience conflicting emotions, or feel misunderstood by peers.
In addition, they are often young carers: they worry about their brother or sister, help with caregiving, or receive less attention from their parents. Early support is essential to prevent these children from becoming emotionally overwhelmed. However, in practice, little support is currently offered to siblings of children with disabilities.
Veerman investigated the type of support siblings need and mapped what is currently available. Her research shows that young siblings primarily need opportunities to meet peers, information about their brother or sister’s disability, emotional support during difficult events, and guidance on how to handle challenging behaviors such as aggression. Parents play a crucial role in this, but professional support is also desired. At the same time, existing resources are fragmented and often limited to general tips or activities; effective interventions are scarce.
Game helps families
To fill this gap, Veerman, together with the academic collaborative center Affect-us, developed the game ‘Broodles’ (Dutch: ‘Broedels’) in co-creation with siblings. The freely accessible game targets children aged 6 to 9 years and helps siblings to cope with their feelings and the situation at home in a playful way. Research among 107 families shows that the game helps: children realize they are not alone, learn to cope with difficult emotions, find it easier to talk about their feelings with parents, and gain a better understanding of (the behavior of) their sibling .
The research contributes to greater recognition for siblings, provides practical tools for families and professionals in supporting siblings, and encourages a family-centered approach to care. Moreover, it can have a preventive effect: by providing early support to siblings , mental health problems may be prevented, and they are better prepared for their future role as caregivers. ‘Broodles’ fits into this as an accessible, modern eHealth tool and has been freely available in the Netherlands and Belgium since 2025 via www.brussengame.nl and www.regelhulp.nl. As one parent summarized: “Through the game, things were discussed that she had kept to herself before.”
Veerman defends her PhD December 16 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.