Welcoming Your Foster Child with Open Arms

When meeting your foster child for the first time, it can be nerve-wracking for both of you. But with just a little preparation, you can ease the tension and make him or her feel comfortable in his or her new home.  Here are some helpful tips to make sure you and your home are ready for your new addition.

• Personal Space: Your foster child will feel out-of-sorts for the first little while. That is why it is important to provide a clean, personal space for the child. Make sure you’ve cleaned out drawers and closet space, as well as tidying up the room and making the bed. This shows that you want him or her to feel comfortable and welcome into your home.
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• Tour: Give him or her a tour of your home. This will help the child feel like it is now his or her home as well. Also make sure to show him or her where you sleep, and let him or her know that he or she can come and wake you after a bad dream, and so on. Let him or her know that you are available, and that you care.

• Peace and Quiet: When you first bring him or her into your home, make sure it is quiet and calm. It will most likely be too overwhelming to have your entire family and extended family over, at first. Also, give him or her time alone in his or her new room to get things situated, and to get thoughts and emotions together.

• Talking and Sharing: Let your foster child open up to you when he or she is ready. Moving to a new house and with a new family can be a very traumatizing situation. Once he or she feels comfortable, he or she will talk to you. If you push too hard to get him or her to open up, it may taint the budding relationship and lessen the trust.

• Open Communication: You, as the foster parent, need to let the child know your relationship to him or her, the rules of the house, what he or she can expect from you, and what you expect from him or her. After you’re done explaining, give time to your foster child for response, and to understand what he or she needs from you. This can be a great opportunity to strengthen your trust and bond with your foster child.

Accepting a foster child into your home will be new territory. It may seem overwhelming, stressful, and scary. But, if you prepare yourself and your home as much as possible beforehand, you’ll experience a smoother transition.

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