Some respite workers are comfortable caring for several siblings at a time. Others may not want to or may feel they are not qualified. Again, leave it up to families to negotiate how siblings are to be dealt with. One possible approach is for providers to stagger their involvement by including activities with siblings every other visit or once a month, for example. Breaks in routine could lead to a tired, hungry, irritable child, and more likely, frequent tantrums.
Parents also can instruct providers in the kinds of reinforcement their children respond to best.
When the family trains the provider, the provider learns the family's particular needs and is more prepared to meet them. This is especially important for a child who is on an established schedule. Just as information from the parent is invaluable to the care provider, the respite program can help parents learn how to establish proper boundaries for their children and how to resist buying into power plays acted out by the children. Respite programs can offer support groups where parents and providers get together in informal settings to discuss the children and their experiences caring for them. This gives parents a chance to become better acquainted with the respite providers and their strengths, and to network with other parents who are coping with similar issues.