Bonding With Your Foster Children

January 6, 2009 by brwilson
Filed under: Foster Care, Parenting Tips

Foster parents can have a difficult time bonding with new foster children added to their family. Below are a few easy things foster parents can do to form stronger bonds with the foster kids.
1. Eat dinner together with no distractions. Sitting down for a family meal with your foster kids will give all of you time to talk about your day and plans for the night.
2. Start a family night where the foster kids participate in an activity. Have different family members choose each week what the family night activity will be.
3. Helping a foster child with their homework enables you to see what they are learning and how they are doing academically. By giving your foster child support and praise it will boost their confidence in school and life.
4. When planning a family vacation you can ask your foster children where they want to travel to or what they want to see on vacation. By getting their input in the planning process you make them feel like a part of the family.
5. If the foster children have extracurricular activities like sports or choir. Make sure you go and support them at the events. Give them praise and get involved with them also.
6. If you are foster parents for younger kids reading to your foster child daily increases their literacy, but it also allows for some great bonding time.
10. The adolescent years can be incredibly hard on the self esteem of many foster children. By giving compliments or positive feedback frequently to your foster child you can build their confidence and perception of themselves.