4 Ways To Help Foster Children Enjoy The Holiday Season
Helping Your Foster Child Adjust To The Holidays With You
The holidays can be a painful reminder of the trauma that the children have faced before coming into care or trigger feelings about being away from their families (no matter the circumstances) during these times that usually symbolize family togetherness. Also, as I am sure you are all aware, due to COVID-19, stress levels are at an all-time high for all (children, adults, workers, etc.), so that can add to whatever your foster children may be feeling during the holidays.
How can you help? Here are four quick ways:
1. Create New Holiday Traditions. If it is their first time in your home during the holiday season, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, then maybe you can work on creating new holiday traditions that include them. They may likely be feeling like an outsider (which is very understandable), so this can work for all as if all goes well, both will benefit and hopefully be able to draw closer to one another.
2. Be Empathetic. If they don’t feel as “in the spirit” as you and your family do, that’s okay, don’t force it upon them. You want to be sure to offer and make them feel included, but if it’s their first time or too much of a trigger, be empathetic and be available to them as needed.
3. Be Flexible, Be Versatile. Ask the youth what does, did, or would make this a memorable holiday for them, and if feasible, try to make it happen. It may require some flexibility or adjustments from what your family is used to, but remember that you took on this position for a greater purpose, so being flexible should be a part of the journey. This will pay off in the end, I promise.
4. Honor Or Infuse Old Traditions (If Possible). This goes right along with being flexible, honoring, and respecting what their prior practices were, and even seeing how you and the family can infuse some elements of the two together. This is another way to make your new foster child feel family (and even possibly lessen the blow of trauma).
With a little preparation beforehand from you, this season of joy can be a wonderful time for your foster child, one that may last in their memory for a lifetime, as well as in your memory too. After all, the gifts of love and acceptance can be shared, not only during the holidays, but all year long.
Happy Holidays.
