Foster care at Christmas: Tips for the Holidays
Foster care at Christmas could prove difficult. Of course, you would like your family to enjoy the season, but doing so while remaining sensitive to your child’s views can be difficult.
For looked after children, the happiest times are often the most challenging, as they may reflect on memories and experiences from the past, or experience mixed emotions. There are additional things to consider throughout the holiday season, such as what to do if you and your foster child practise different religions. Because you or they may not celebrate Christmas, you must approach the holiday season with caution.
Here are some things to look for in your foster child this Christmas
Problems with faith and the Christmas season
One of the most common Christmas concerns is faith, and the fact that you or a child in your care may not celebrate the Christian holiday. This can be a difficult subject for foster families that care for children of different religions, and there is no universal answer.
It’s times like these when having a close relationship with your child’s social worker comes in handy, because they’ll be able to offer guidance and feedback on how to handle Christmas, regardless of your personal beliefs.
inevitably as the foster carer, you will have to make accommodations if a child in your care practises a faith that does not celebrate Christmas, and you should attempt to be respectful and sensitive to this situation. If the child comes from a Christian family, certain Christmas rituals should be appreciated, but you can incorporate components of your own faith to encourage multiculturalism in your home.
Disinterest in the celebrations
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the pleasure and enjoyment of Christmas and forget that the season isn’t always pleasant for everyone. Because of previous failures and disappointments, young people in care may become apathetic towards Christmas.
To help with this you must remember that your foster child may not feel the same way towards the Holiday season as you do and you must take their view into account when leading up to the holidays.
Changes in Behaviour
Happy memories of the holidays spent with their birth family can often spark behavioural changes in youngsters, while the fact that it’s such a huge event on the calendar might amplify any feelings of grief they may have about being separated from their parents and siblings.
To deal with this it is necessary that you and your foster child have a discussion about the holidays beforehand, so you can find some ways to make the holiday season easier for them.
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