Supporting Foster Children Through the Holidays

Christmas is a time of year many people choose to spend celebrating with their families. This can make Christmas a tricky time of year for foster children, particularly if they are new to a foster family. There are many ways you can make your home a fun and happy place for a foster child over the Christmas period and we’re here to help you make this the most wonderful time of their year!

Food, glorious food
Christmas is a time of indulgence and for some foster children, this might be unfamiliar territory in a home they are not used to. Many families have their own food traditions during the festive period and it is important to remember that a foster child needs to feel included. Ask them what their favourite foods and treats are and let them have involvement in decisions around any big family meals. 

Think about Santa
If your foster child is of the appropriate age to ask for presents from Santa, it is important to be sensitive, especially if you have other children. A popular idea recently is to have children write to Santa to ask for smaller presents and any larger gifts are addressed from the gift giver. This is to make sure no child feels as though Santa is treating them any differently to any others. Seek support from your social work team if you are unsure how to approach gifts this Christmas.

Prepare
Many foster families find that preparing for a busy time like Christmas is key to success. You may have lots of visitors coming over or events to attend and it is helpful for the whole family, including your foster child, to know where and when things are happening. Letting everybody know when to expect festive fun like decorations, music and parties means there are no surprises and reminds them that it is a time of fun!

Allow some time to rest
Christmas is a busy time for everyone and it is important that both you and your foster child don’t burn out! There are some great relaxing festive activities you can take part in as a family such as winding down with a Christmas film or reading stories together. It is also important to let everyone in the family have some time to themselves if they wish, all the fun can be tiring!

Don’t go overboard
While Christmas can be a time for treats, do try to maintain a routine as much as possible. This can go hand in hand with your Christmas planning and preparation, think about things you could use such as a Christmas calendar to help the whole family prepare and try and space out your activities to maintain a sense of normality where you can.

While there may be some challenges for a foster child around this time of year, by listening to their needs, and with good preparation, you can make it the highlight of the year for your whole family.