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A day just for siblings
June 2, 2026
At Very Special Kids, our Sibling Days are designed to support children who have a sibling with a life‑limiting condition, or who are grieving the death of a brother or sister.
While every experience is different, there is often a deep, unspoken understanding shared among siblings. These days bring children together to celebrate individuality while gently recognising the strength found in shared experience.
At the most recent Sibling Day, Lego was used as a creative and playful way for children to explore their sense of self and community.
Through building, imagination and collaboration, siblings were given space to reflect, connect and simply enjoy being themselves.
Creating space for self‑expression
The day began with individual Lego building, where children were invited to create something that reflected who they are or what matters to them. Some built homes or included a special pet, while others explored more abstract designs. Each creation was different, highlighting unique strengths, creativity and ways of thinking.
The quiet act of building, accompanied by music, offered time for reflection and calm. For some families, these creations continued to spark meaningful conversations well beyond the day itself. One parent shared:
We talked a lot about her strength through the Lego house that she built and the character that she drew out of the bag.
Her Lego character came with the word ‘strength’.
For the children, the experience was simple, joyful and validating. As one sibling put it, “Just fun‑fun‑fun‑fun.”
Building together
In the afternoon, siblings worked collaboratively in a Lego Masters‑style challenge, creating imaginary worlds they would all like to belong to. The builds included animals, nature, spaces for connection and places to play. Working as a team gave children the opportunity to practise cooperation, communication and shared problem‑solving.
“They put so much effort into both individual and team Lego projects and they all got a reward for their efforts,” one volunteer observed.
Children proudly shared their creations with each other, celebrating not only what they built, but what they built together.
Supporting the whole family
While siblings participated in the program, parents and carers were also offered a chance for respite through the Pilot Program for Integrated Massage and Aromatherapy at Very Special Kids.
Sessions were quickly booked, with six parents and carers able to pause, rest and focus on self‑care while children took part in the day.
We are grateful to The Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust for generously funding this program and helping us offer an additional layer of comfort and care to families.
Impact beyond the day
Overall, 71 percent of siblings said the day made them feel happy or very happy.
Others described mixed emotions early on, including sadness about leaving their carer or anxiety about meeting new people. These feelings changed as the day progressed, replaced by confidence, connection and enjoyment. One family shared:
[My son] had a very happy and positive experience and lots of fun. He said he made a new best friend who was the same age, had similar interests and was also there for the first time.
Sibling Days help foster compassionate communities where children can explore identity, recognise personal strengths and build connections with others who understand their world.
To learn more about our next sibling day on Tuesday 30 June click here.
