15 Halloween Safety Tips For Foster Kids and Teens
October 6, 2022
Foster Parent Tips For A Happier Holiday Season
December 1, 2022
Preparing for the holiday season when fostering brings some unique challenges, but there is also a lot to be thankful for. Reporting on the health benefits of gratitude, WebMD lists increased happiness, better sleep, and strength when facing adversity, to name a few. This Thanksgiving, develop an attitude of gratitude as a foster family and be open to starting new traditions. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
Think Sweet and Simple
Whipping up an easy pumpkin pie or batch of gingersnaps can facilitate bonding as a foster family. So can simple acts like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together, tossing a football in the yard, or cheering on a favorite NFL team (or Puppy Bowl underdog).
Get the Creative Juices Flowing
Good Housekeeping recently compiled a list of DIY Thanksgiving crafts for kids of all ages, including a coffee can scarecrow, leaf finger puppets, pom pom pumpkins, paper gourds, pinecone turkeys, and 50 more ideas for inspiration.
Host a Holiday Movie Night
Plan a Thanksgiving Break movie marathon in the family room, pop some corn, and stream family-friendly holiday favorites. Parade recommends Free Birds, Ratatouille, Miracle on 34th Street, Little Women, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, of course!
Set The Table in a Unique Way
Aha! Parenting suggests setting the Thanksgiving table with a plain white tablecloth and asking each family member to write something they are grateful for on it using a permanent marker. Include their name and date, and add to it every year as a memento of your time together.
Count Your Blessings
End each day in November by asking family members to share at least one thing they are grateful for. You can take turns around the dinner table, keep a Gratitude Journal, or add notes anonymously to a jar.
As with any holiday, it’s also important to observe the holiday celebrations of your foster child or teen. Ask if there are any traditions they miss from home or a previous placement, and be respectful of their feelings as you navigate the holiday season. Click here for more holiday day traditions just for foster families and have a happy Thanksgiving!
If you live in the state of Illinois are want 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.
