5 Stress-Busting Summer Activities For Foster Kids

Summer is in full swing and the “back to school” season is looming straight ahead. If your foster child or teenager thrives on routine, being home for weeks on end can cause a disruption to their regular daily schedule, especially when boredom sets in. At the same time, the thought of a new school year and the changes it brings can lead to an increase in anxiety for many. Finding self-soothing techniques and calming activities can help young people cope with these feelings and common challenges. Here, we have compiled a list of stress-busting summer activities for foster kids that may help.

1. Puzzles: Puzzles are a relaxing way to pass the time and keep the mind engaged over summer break. A recent article published by Huffpost discusses why puzzles are so soothing, including offering kids a sense of control and accomplishment. Puzzles are also tactile and immersive, and they provide an opportunity for family members to work together towards a common goal.

2. Gardening: Psychology Today notes that gardening can have a positive effect on our mental health. This simple activity not only gets us outside in the sunshine, but it also can help to lift a bad mood and overcome any feelings of anxiety. In addition to a rush of happy hormones, nurturing a garden and watching plants grow gives foster children a sense of responsibility and a boost in self-esteem.

3. Swimming Laps: A day at the pool is always a fun and exciting family activity, but it can also be a peaceful, meditative experience. Swimming laps involves a series of repetitive strokes and rhythmic breathing that can calm the nervous system, as recently reported in an Insider article on the health benefits of swimming and why it’s especially great for stress relief. In general, regular physical activity can help ward off stress, including riding bikes, dancing, or playing a summer sport.

4. Baking: Baking involves math, science and a heaping pinch of creativity. It also is a great way to escape and self-soothe when feeling worried or overwhelmed, according to BHG. Like we mentioned above, repetition eases the mind, and that includes following the steps in a recipe. Baking can also be therapeutic, because it stimulates the senses. Best of all, everyone in the family can work together and enjoy the delicious end result!

5. Arts and Crafts: Providing a healthy outlet to express their creativity can help foster children and teenagers deal with the feelings they may be experiencing, whether they prefer painting, drawing, sculpting with clay, coding a website, composing a song, or building something special with you. Pinterest is filled with project ideas for kids of all ages, or just let them be free to create. For helpful tips, check out our blog article, 5 Ways To Inspire Creativity In A Foster Child (And Why It Helps).

If you are considering fostering, summer is a great time to become a foster parent. We invite you to visit our website for more information, or click on the following link to get started: https://family.binti.com/users/signup/camelot-il-initial

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.