Even though Christmas time can be a difficult time for foster children they still want to included and become part of things. They will have times that they feel guilty for having a good time and enjoying Christmas because they know that is not the case for the biological parents. I have found that they talk more about their lives, home, biological parents and things that happened during the holidays.

Including a foster child during the holidays can be more than decorating the Christmas and baking cookies, while these things are great starting points, it is just the beginning. My children make ornaments along with other crafts for their teachers and other people. This is something that my children enjoy doing. Foster children want to be like other children at school bringing their teacher a gift this helps them feel part of things and not so singled out from the other children in their class. It does not have to be something expensive, it can be something as simple as a mug with chocolates in it or homemade cookies, candies or breads.

Foster children want to be able to partipate in sharing gifts with their foster families, siblings not living in the foster home and some with their biological parents. This allows them to show their feelings and think of others while understanding it is not a choice between families (biological and foster). It can be meaningful for the foster children to be able to make Christmas cards, gifts and wrap their presents to give out. In most foster children you can see a sense of accomplishment and pride in the faces when they hand their treasured gifts out. On Christmas morning my foster children have taken great joy in handing out their gifts to each person which normally “Dad” does that but it is important to them so they do it.

More reading:

Foster Children at Christmas Time

Love Thursday on Friday: Baking Christmas Cookies

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