Making Christmas Special with Foster Children: Tips for Foster Carers
Read about some of the ways you can make Christmas special for children in your care, with some insights from foster carers.
Christmas can be a magical time for many families.
For foster children, however, it can also bring unique challenges. As a foster parent, making the festive season special involves creating a warm and inclusive environment while being mindful of each child's individual background and needs. Here are some key ways to make Christmas memorable and positive for the children in your care.
Create a calm and stress-free environment
For some foster children, Christmas can trigger difficult memories or emotions related to past experiences. Be sure to avoid overwhelming them, as the excitement of Christmas, with its sensory overload of lights, sounds, and people, can be a lot for children to take in.
It is also important to stick to routines as much as you can. Maintaining a routine, or giving children notice of changes to routine, can provide a sense of security and predictability, which is especially important for children who may feel unsettled.
Lastly, make sure your foster child has a safe space when they need it. Reassure your child if they appear overstimulated or emotional, and let them know that they can step away for quiet time if they need to.
Make new Christmas traditions together
Building new traditions with the children in your care can help them feel included in the family celebrations and give them a sense of belonging. Some ideas to involve foster children include:
- Choosing the Christmas tree: Make choosing and buying a tree a traditional family activity. Children will love having a say in which tree to go for, and being part of the family outing.
- Decorating the tree: Involve your foster children in deciding how the tree is decorated. This will make them feel included and valued, and they’ll love being a part of the celebration.
- Baking together: Get your children involved in making festive biscuits or cakes. Baking can be a fun, stress-free activity that will help strengthen bonds within the family.
- Crafting homemade decorations: This can be a lovely way to spend time together, allowing the child to create something meaningful to hang on the tree, or even to gift to a family member.
By establishing new traditions together, you can help create positive Christmas memories for the future.
Our foster families at Fosterplus are excited about celebrating Christmas with the children in their care, and many find it so wonderful sharing festive traditions with their foster children and making special memories that they will cherish forever.
Some of our foster parents have reflected on the Christmas season, provided some thoughtful insights and shared ways that they plan to make Christmas special with their children this year.
Be mindful of children with no Christmas experience
Not all children in foster care have celebrated Christmas before, whether for cultural or religious reasons, or simply due to family circumstances. For these children, it is helpful to introduce Christmas gently, explaining what the holiday involves and the traditions surrounding it. You might even ask them how they'd like to participate - whether that means joining in fully or simply observing.
It is important to respect each child’s preferences. Some children may not feel comfortable engaging in all aspects of Christmas, which is ok. Be sure to adapt your plans and respect their individual choices, as well as supporting any religious or cultural differences. If you need any advice regarding this, be sure to reach out to your social worker who will be happy to support you.
Christmas celebrations should be inclusive, so make focus on activities that are meaningful beyond religious traditions, such as spending quality time together, enjoying activities and giving gifts.
Support connection with birth families
For many foster children, Christmas can stir feelings of loss or separation, as it’s traditionally a time for families to come together. Supporting their connection to their biological family, where appropriate, can be very important during the festive season. Some ideas include:
- Sending Christmas cards or gifts: Help them pick out a card or small gift for their family members. This can give the child a sense of connection and provide comfort.
- Facilitate family time: If it’s part of your child’s care plan, arrange for a phone call or visit with their relatives. These connections can help ease any feelings of loneliness or displacement and help make Christmas more special for them.
- Acknowledge their emotions: Talk to your foster child about their feelings and memories related to Christmas, letting them know that it’s ok to feel a mix of excitement, sadness, or confusion.
Making Christmas magical
Christmas is about creating joy, and there are simple ways to make the season feel magical for foster children:
- Personalised stockings: Have a stocking with their name on it, filled with small surprises, which can make them feel special.
- Christmas Eve traditions: Reading a story, watching a festive film, or leaving out treats for Father Christmas can create an enchanting atmosphere for children.
- Small, thoughtful gifts: You don’t have to go overboard with presents – sometimes, thoughtful gifts that reflect the child’s interests or hobbies can mean much more.
Christmas is an opportunity to create lasting, positive memories for foster children, while also being mindful of their individual needs and backgrounds. Whether through new traditions, thoughtful gestures, or supporting connections with birth families, you can make the festive season both special and inclusive. The love and care you provide to a child during the Christmas period is something that will stay with them forever, creating memories that they will carry throughout their whole life.
If you’d like to know more about changing a child’s life through fostering, please get in touch with our team today.
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