What to Do with Foster Children
Are you worried that you and your foster child are not engaged enough? Well, we have exciting things that you can do to bond with a foster child under your care.
Giving them attention
Even before we start looking at the activities that you can do with a foster child, you should first know that attention is what they require from you.
Children enjoy when adults give them attention because it builds their sense of belonging and approval. Whatever you do, ensure that the foster child feels appreciated through constant attention.
Exciting activities to bond with a foster child
Reading together
Reading together with a child is a great way to bond no matter their age. Most children crave one-on-one attention from adults, thus, reading provides this opportunity.
Depending on the age of the child, you can use varied reading strategies. For example, if they are young, you can read stories to them as you ask them questions. If they are old enough to read, you can read in turns.
It is important that you choose the right books that you will read together with the child. They should be age-appropriate. This will also go a long way to improving their reading habits, which will boost their learning experience.
Cook and eat together
Have you ever considered cooking together with a foster child? This is a brilliant way to bond and share a meal with the child.
While doing this, you will also be imparting important life skills related to cooking and sharing a meal as a family.
Child one to one’s
As a way of keeping the foster child closer, you can schedule routine child one to one. These special dates should be planned and provide a safe way for the child to feel appreciated. While on these one to one with the child, you should discuss positive items about the child.
It is also important that you choose different venues for the events so that they don’t look like routine meetings. Child one to one’s could also allow the child to express their inner feelings about people around him/her.
Shopping together
Children love shopping, thus you can make your foster child happier by taking him/her shopping. Instead of just giving them money to go buy stuff, you should accompany them. It will create a special bond and allow you to have a social experience with the child.
Play card games or puzzles together
Don’t limit your interaction with the child in formal settings, you can also play games with him/her. A few suggested games include card games, puzzles, or even play station.
You might have to compromise a bit and find a game that the child loves for you to play together. It can also be interesting if you teach them a new interactive game.
All these are great ideas that you can use to engage a foster child. Remember, this list is never enough; you can add more exciting activities that you want. Depending on the foster child’s liking, you can add activities like swimming, skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, etc.
What to avoid
However, you should avoid activities that are not age-appropriate for the child. In addition, ensure that the child does not engage in an activity that is deemed to be unsafe. This can be quite challenging for new foster carers. This is why you should conduct risk assessments before engaging in some outfield activities.
Final thoughts
We’ve shared a mixture of activities for indoor and outdoor experiences. You should choose appropriate activities that match your home setting.
You can also contact us if you are unsure about the age-appropriateness of the activities that you want to do with your foster child.
