You can easily overlook why a foster child will have a tough time during the festive season. If the child is in a safe and supportive place, that’s good.
All foster children come from different backgrounds, which means they would celebrate the holiday season differently. Welcoming a foster child into a new home would be a positive experience based on their background.
Some kids have managed to enjoy the holiday season in the presence of their parents. When they’re taken to a new home, they’ll feel scared, and they’ll be stressed.
As we approach the holiday season, some of the ways you can support a foster child include:
Have a Discussion With Friends and Family First
Ensure your friends and family are aware of everyone that will be around during the festive season. If you’ll be at home with immediate members of your family, ensure your biological kids are prepared and ensure they understand what to expect. If they understand that the foster child has some issues, they’ll be well equipped to assist them accordingly while ensuring they’ll feel at home.
When traveling, ensure you’ve discussed with the entire group first. There is no need for surprises. You can also enlighten people about dealing with foster children during the festive season.
For instance, people will always come bearing gifts. They should ensure that the biological children and the foster child have presents. There is no need to leave anyone out. You now see why you need to discuss first before the holiday season.
Don’t Become Upset If the Foster Child Seems Sad.
You may have put a lot of effort into ensuring your foster child will feel at home. Ensure you aren’t too hard on yourself when you notice signs of frustration. Foster children usually exhibit emotions such as depression, and they will act out. You should be patient with them and assist them in coping with stressful situations.
Engage Your Foster Child in a Discussion
It is good to engage your foster child during the holiday season. They should know more about your plans and traditions to ensure they’ll have an easy time fitting in. They should also know whether you’ll be hosting a large or small group of people.
Adhere to each of these tips, and your foster child will get to enjoy the holiday season.