It can be hard to watch your child stay on the sidelines while their siblings play together—or to see sibling interactions turn into frustration instead of fun. If your child doesn’t seem interested in playing with brothers or sisters, you’re not alone. Many children, especially those with developmental delays or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), need extra support to build social and play skills. The good news is that these skills can be taught, step by step.

Playing with siblings involves more than just sharing space—it requires communication, turn-taking, joint attention, and understanding social cues. If your child struggles in any of these areas, jumping into play can feel overwhelming. That doesn’t mean they don’t want connection—it just means they need help learning how to join in.

Start small. Choose a simple activity your child enjoys, like stacking blocks, rolling a ball, or doing a puzzle. Invite one sibling to participate, and model what it looks like to take turns, ask for a piece, or comment on what’s happening. Celebrate even small interactions—like your child handing a toy to their sibling or making eye contact. Use praise and positive reinforcement to make those moments rewarding and encourage more of them.

It can also help to keep play sessions short and structured at first. Open-ended play can be confusing, so having a clear beginning, middle, and end can reduce stress and make things more successful. You might say, “Let’s play with cars for five minutes—then we’ll have a snack!” Giving both children a role (like one pushes, the other parks) can also create a sense of teamwork.

If your child seems disinterested or avoids siblings altogether, that’s okay. Some children need to build comfort just being near others before they’re ready to engage. Sitting together while doing separate activities or using parallel play (side-by-side play without direct interaction), is a great starting point. Over time, with guidance and encouragement, your child can learn to enjoy and initiate play with their siblings.

Finally, don’t hesitate to ask our team for help building sibling goals into therapy. We can support both children in learning how to connect in ways that feel fun, safe, and natural. Play is a skill—and like any skill, it gets stronger with practice and support!