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Once your foster child arrives, you will want to make them feel welcome and part of the family. Participating in fun activities together can help you get to know one another and bond as a whole. Whether it is spending time together in the kitchen, planning a special night out, or playing board games, there are multiple ways to create and maintain a new bond. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
1. Hang pictures in the home.
One way to make your foster child feel at home is to include pictures of them amongst the family photos you have on display. This works as a visual reminder that they are now part of the family, too. You may ask about any former pictures they might have, or take new pictures together as a family. Consider giving the foster child a choice as to which photo frame they want, and where to hang or place the photo. This will make them feel like they are included in the family decision-making.
2. Read together.
No matter what their age, reading together is a great bonding activity. Take trips to the local library and help them find a book they are interested in. For younger kids, take turns reading and listening to them read. While a teenager may not want to read aloud with you, you can still bond with them over the journey to the library or bookstore, and in helping them find a perfect reading match. You can also spend quality time reading your own book alongside them in the living room.
3. Cook with your kids.
Invite your foster children to help you bake treats or prepare meals in the kitchen. Give them choices as far as what they are interested in cooking — and eating! Ask for their opinion when planning out your weekly menu, and visit the grocery store together to buy the ingredients.
3. Plan a parent-child date night.
Make an effort to take your foster child out to do something special at least once a month. Depending on your budget, this could be anything from bowling to a catching the latest Blockbuster at the movie theatre. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; even grabbing an ice cream cone together can help you to slow down and spend time with one another.
5. Find fun at home.
In addition to special nights out (or if you have little kids, afternoons at the park or at a local museum), find fun family activities to do at home. Hold family board game or video game nights, or rent a movie and pop some popcorn. Keep it simple and low-key. If they aren’t having fun, then it is okay to move on and to try another fun activity together another time.
Inviting a foster child into your home means adding a new person to your family. Even if temporary, they are now a member of your household, and the attitude you bring to the table while foster parenting is key to forming a bond. Any new relationship will take time to grow, but with a few simple steps, you can build the foundation for a bond that may last a lifetime.
Every child needs and deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. At Camelot Care Centers, we specialize in higher-level foster care for children and adolescents that need extra support. We partner with our foster parents/homes to provide trauma informed care and additional services, including in-home counseling, parent support and training, tele-psychiatry, and therapeutic mentoring, to maintain children at the least restrictive, yet most appropriate level of care. Camelot Care Centers (“Camelot”) is a Child Welfare Agency licensed by the State of Illinois, a member of the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
