For Brothers & Sisters
Is it normal to feel upset or jealous sometimes?
It is completely normal for brothers and sisters to feel upset or jealous sometimes, especially when a sibling needs extra help and attention. These feelings are okay, and the most helpful thing is to share them with a trusted grown-up. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
Feeling upset or jealous sometimes doesn't make you a bad brother or sister — it makes you human.
In short
Yes — it is completely normal to feel upset, cross, or jealous sometimes. Lots of brothers and sisters feel this way, especially when it seems like your sibling gets extra time, help, or attention. These feelings are okay. What matters is that you have someone safe to share them with, so the feelings don't get stuck inside.Why these feelings happen
When your brother or sister needs more help with talking, learning, or everyday things, grown-ups often spend lots of time with them. That can leave you feeling:- Left out — like nobody noticed you today.
- Jealous — wishing some of that attention was for you.
- Cross or guilty — angry one minute, then feeling bad for being angry.
- Worried — about your sibling, or about getting it "wrong".
Every one of these feelings is allowed. You can love your sibling and feel upset on the same day. Both can be true at once.
What can help
- Tell someone you trust — a parent, grandparent, or teacher. Saying "I felt left out today" helps more than keeping it inside.
- Ask for your own special time — even ten minutes that is just yours with a grown-up makes a big difference.
- Find your own thing — a hobby, a sport, a friend, a quiet corner — something that is yours.
- Remember it's not your job to fix everything. You are the brother or sister, not the carer.
The Pinnacle way
This is general support information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care. Your family is never alone in this: explore how we support [the whole family](/) , learn what your sibling's therapy looks like so it feels less mysterious, and read about how progress is understood.Trusted sources
American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on supporting siblings of children with developmental needs; WHO Nurturing Care Framework on family wellbeing within child development.Next step — If these feelings feel heavy a lot of the time, tell a grown-up — and families can [talk to a Pinnacle clinician](/) about support for everyone at home.
What to watch
Notice if upset or jealous feelings stay heavy most days, if you stop enjoying things you used to like, or if you feel you have to keep your feelings hidden — these are signs it's time to tell a trusted grown-up.
Try this at home
When a big feeling comes, name it out loud to someone you trust — 'I felt left out today' — instead of keeping it inside.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Is it bad to feel jealous of my brother or sister?
No, it isn't bad at all. Feeling jealous sometimes is normal and very common for brothers and sisters. You can love your sibling and still feel jealous on the same day — both feelings are allowed.
What should I do when I feel upset?
Tell someone you trust, like a parent, grandparent, or teacher. Saying how you feel out loud helps the feeling get lighter. You can also ask for some special time that is just for you.
Why does my sibling get more attention?
When a brother or sister needs extra help with things like talking or learning, grown-ups often spend more time helping them. It doesn't mean you matter less — it's okay to ask for your own special time too.