Summertime With Your Foster Children

School is out, summer has arrived and now you are wondering how do I keep my foster youth occupied and not go crazy myself?  Have no fear, we are here to help you with some great ideas that both you and your foster youth will all enjoy while spending quality time together as well!

Summertime, while kids are out of school, is a wonderful opportunity for you and your foster youth to connect on a different level.  These summer months can also be a critical time for foster youth, many of whom have moved around to and from different homes during the school year.  Therefore, summertime is also a great time to help them catch up in areas of school where they may have fallen behind due to the many changes they have endured throughout the school year.  But keep in mind, you don’t want to spend the whole summer working on school work!  It’s important to engage in fun activities with them to help them see what family life is supposed to be like and provide them with memories that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.

There are many inexpensive or free activities that you can do with the entire family throughout the summer to keep them entertained and interested while throwing in some learning at the same time!  For example, many local museums and art galleries have special summer pricing for kids and families, with some of them hosting free entry days.  Take a trip to the local zoo or beach, check out a baseball game, go for a hike or a fun bike ride or even take a simple trip to the park.  Surprisingly, many foster youth have never experienced these simple and inexpensive things that they will carry with them for a lifetime and will also help your relationship grow.

Keep in mind that summer activities don’t always have to be something “on the go.”  You don’t have to travel far to appreciate the great outdoors!  Set up a tent and have some fun with a night of backyard camping with your foster family!  Just setting up the tent together could be a fun team challenge! Build a campfire, share some stories and eat some smores.

Recruit the kids to help you with some basic yard work and work together to plant some flowers in the backyard. Planting a garden together is a fun idea and allows them to see vegetables growing into a plant from a seed, and seeing the progress of their own hard work – which can also assist in helping them to gain self confidence.  And you never know –  if they helped to plant them, care for them and grow them, they might actually be more inclined to eat them!  Then, after a hard day of work in the yard, turn on the sprinkler and let them run through it to cool off!

Of course there are always rainy days that will require you to become more creative – so head to the library to pick out a few books, have a weekly movie night with their favorite snacks while watching some family movies or play some board games.  Another indoor option – that could also be outdoors – is rock painting!  All you need are some rocks with a flat side, some paint and a few brushes!  Connect with your family and start up some conversations.  Ask each other engaging questions about what they are painting and how they thought of the designs they are creating.  In addition, a painted rock may seem like something small, but could also end up becoming a cherished keepsake for your child.

If your budget allows, you can also consider summer camps for your foster child.  These camps are a great way for foster children to socialize, make new friends and learn new skills.  They often come with fun outdoor activities as well such as swimming and hiking.  And let's face it, we all need a break from the kids to rejuvenate, relieve some stress and prepare for their return.

Summertime activities are a great opportunity for foster families to bond and make cherished memories for the children as well as the parents.  Whether you are playing games, going for bike rides, or just spending time together doing simple activities in the back yard.  These can all help to strengthen all of the relationships in your foster home.  Remember, whatever it is that you decide to do, you are spending quality time with your foster child and letting them know that they deserve your attention, and that is truly what matters most!

Also keep in mind that private foster care and adoption agencies such as Kids Count Too, Inc. typically host activities throughout the summer to get our network of families and children together for some fun events.  Kids Count Too plans special events for our families during the summer such as trips to the zoo, Mud Hens games and summer cookouts at the local park.

Are you not a foster parent but have been considering it - or even curious as to what is involved?  Now is the perfect time to give us a call!  You can contact us at any of our locations in Bowling Green, Columbus and Cleveland and we will be happy to answer any of your questions and walk you through the entire process to help you decide if it is right for you!