Today I’m sharing a post containing tips on how to help foster children adjust to a new weekday routine. It has been written by a foster parent. Have you recently welcomed a foster child into your home? Are you working hard to create a supportive, stable and loving environment for them in which they feel welcomed?

How to Help Foster Children Adjust

I think it’s fair to say that most children benefit from a stable, predictable routine. A solid routine will help build confidence, help children to feel safe and allow them to relax when appropriate. So when looking for ways to help foster children adjust, one thing that you may want to focus on is building a consistent weekday routine.

As previously mentioned, consistency and routines are something that kids of all ages benefit from. To make things smooth for foster children in a new home, here are some tips you can use during the adjustment period.

Discuss the Routine in Full

Rather than expecting foster children to just go with the flow or understand the routine, it’s important to have a family discussion. This is an opportunity for you to discuss the schedule and your expectations, and it gives them a chance to ask questions or share any concerns they may have. And while the routine may seem basic to you, it may be a bit scary or intimidating to a new foster child, especially if they aren’t used to consistent routines.

Write Down and Display the Schedule

Just because you’ve discussed the schedule, doesn’t mean kids can remember everything you said, especially if they are younger. A great solution is to write it down in a kid-friendly way and then post it somewhere visible in the house. Posting it in the kitchen or bedroom could be an ideal location. A visual timetable is a good way to help foster children adjust, especially younger ones.

The basics of the schedule will remain the same week to week, such as what time they eat breakfast and head to school, but because other items may change you may want to use a whiteboard/dry-erase board that is set up as a calendar. This allows you to easily make changes like adding in appointments, social engagements, special events, holidays and so forth.

Resist Over-Filling the Schedule

One mistake that can be made is to over-fill the schedule. You may think you’re helping them by packing a lot into their day, but this can be very overwhelming for kids. Keep things more relaxed and flexible, especially in those early days and weeks as you’re getting to know your foster child and they are settling in.

The Routine Will Take Some Time to Kick In

Even with discussions and posting the routine, it will still take time for it to kick in. It’s like learning a new habit; it takes a bit of time at first and then it catches on and becomes second nature. Before you know it, they won’t even need to refer to the schedule any longer.

Don’t Forget Your Foster Agency Is There to Help

And if you need more practical tips and advice, don’t forget your foster agency is there to help and answer any questions you may have. Foster Care Associates, for example, provides foster carers with a wide array of resources such as social team parenting, education support, social work support and more, making it a great example of the tools that may be available to you.

Using these tips to help foster children adjust to a new weekday routine means you’ll be setting everyone up for success.