Fostering a child is a great thing to do, but it can be a big adjustment for them as well as you. Moving into a new home can be daunting, and it can take some time for them to feel comfortable in their new space and interact with you and other members of your household. This will require you to have patience, but it’s important to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to make them feel welcome and part of the family. Below are some tips that might help to make this transition easier for them, and to let them know they are a part of the family unit.
Include Them in the Conversation
If you are all sitting down for a family meal or spending time together in the living room, make sure that your foster child is included in the conversation. Ask them for their thoughts and opinions on the topic that you’re discussing or let them get in on the joke. They might be quiet at first and not contribute too much but keep doing this as eventually they will start to feel more comfortable engaging with you and will see that you want them to be involved.
Let Them Choose
If you have a family movie night or are deciding what to do for dinner one evening, let your foster child choose. If you have other kids at home, make sure everyone takes turns doing this so that no one feels left out, but again asking them to get involved and decide what movie to watch, game to play, meal to make, will help them feel included. This is also a good way to find out more about what they like and dislike.
Do Things Together as Family
You should also try to get out of the house together as a family, whether that’s going to a restaurant for dinner, spending the day at a theme park, or a trip to the cinema. By doing these activities outside of the home it can be a great way for you to bond with your foster child and make some memories with them. It also shows them that your relationship isn’t limited to living with you and that you want them to be part of family life outside of the home, too. Foster care agencies can give you some ideas on what family fun activities might be suitable for a foster child who is adjusting to a new home, too.
Ask Them How Their Day Was
When your foster child comes back from school, ask them how their day was and for details about what they have learned or other events from the day. This will show that you’re interested and care about what is going on in their life and that you are there to support them if they are having a tough time with other kids or struggling with a certain subject. You could even see if they want to invite some of their school friends over for dinner one night so that they know your house is their house, too, not just a place to stay.
It will take time for your foster child to start feeling comfortable in your home, but the tips above can help you to forge those bonds and make this process easier and quicker for them.
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