3 Ways to Create a Caring Home Environment for the Holidays
Holidays often bring about images of children singing carols, families eating turkey and mashed potatoes, and friends enjoying hot cocoa and Christmas cookies in front of a roaring fire. While you and your family may celebrate traditions such as these each year, these images may be very unfamiliar for many foster children. RISE Services, Inc. Oregon wants to help you create a worry-free and peaceful holiday season for foster children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Following the three tips below, you can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the foster children under your care during the holidays.
1. Familiarize Them with Your Family Traditions
Foster children with I/DD may have come from homes that rarely (or never) celebrated birthdays, special family events, or holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. While you believe they are looking forward to all the special festivities, your foster children may be anxious about engaging in unfamiliar activities.
Before taking part in any family traditions or holiday occasions, take some time to share what the holidays mean for you and your family. Let them know that while they are a temporary part of your family, they are wanted and welcome to be a part of your traditions.
2. Introduce Them to Your Family & Friends Early
One of the things we love the most about the holidays is the extra time we spend with family and friends. However, attending holiday get-togethers or having extended family over for Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming for someone not used to having this many people in a small space.
When sharing about your family traditions or planning to attend that annual Christmas party, ask your foster child how they may feel about attending. Are they anxious about meeting new people? Perhaps the host can introduce themselves to your foster child with I/DD, welcome them to their home, and take specific actions to make them feel safe and comfortable.
3. Allow Them to Invite a Familiar Guest
Remember that your foster child may miss their family and friends when your family visits grandma’s house or attends a religious service. Be mindful that if they become upset or irritated while decorating Christmas cookies or opening presents on Christmas morning, it could likely be due to them missing their loved ones.
If appropriate, safe, and approved by RISE and the Case Worker or Support Coordinator, allow him or her to invite a friend or family member to some of the holiday events you plan on attending. There are also some situations where you can plan to meet the biological parents at a neutral location, such as the local ice skating rink or local restaurant, and allow your foster child (with supervision) to spend a portion of their holiday with their family.
Open Your Heart Learn More about Host Homes Today
Host Homes with RISE Oregon receive ongoing support, special skills training, 24/7 on-call services, and more from our highly trained team of professionals. As a RISE Host Home, we help you create loving and welcoming home environments for foster children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Learn more about becoming a host home during the holidays or any time when you contact RISE Oregon today.
Source: DeGarmo, Ed.D, Dr. John N. “Foster Care and the Holidays.” Web article. Foster Focus. Web. 25 Oct. 2023.
