DSS2 copying SN DSS1

[WaitingForMe]

DSS1 is nine. Sweet kid but is a bit away with the fairies, struggles to concentrate, is clumsy, overreacts to small things etc due to (diagnosed) Dyspraxia and (suspected) hypersensitivity and mild autism. We work closely with the school and his development has been remarkable.

DSS2 is six and NT. He's the most popular boy in his year, very charming and intelligent. He's sporty and just, well, good at everything. But he's copying DSS1 and being clumsy, lazy, not listening etc. I KNOW he's not struggling.

What is this and how do we handle it? I can't work out whether he's seeing DSS1 being given more understanding and thinking it's ok to act like that or is he trying not to outshine his brother perhaps? They are very close.

I'd appreciate hearing what other families have experienced and what they did. I surely can't be the first person to have noticed this.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

DD2 is showing symptoms of the same language problem DD1 has. I have no idea if she really IS showing symptoms or if she is pretending.

so sorry I have no advice but you aren't alone with this.

I suppose with regards to clumsiness it is perfectly possible the younger one IS genuinely clumsy. DD1 wasn't in the slightest bit clumsy for the first few years of her life, now, although she scores acceptable levels for movement she definitely has problems. So it is possible it is only just showing up with him for some reason and his compensating skills are failing him a bit. DD1 won both her sports day races and is good at dancing BUT if she has to do movement as a secondary thing so say 'carry this over there' she will trip/fall/drop it etc but say 'go over there' and she will usually manage it ok or even very well.