Often times, holidays and celebrations are a time of the year in which you are more likely to gather with larger groups of extended family and friends. Again, this might be your favorite part of the season. But let’s see it from your child’s perspective: -new...
Imagining the Celebration From Your Child’s Perspective
As we approach this holiday season as foster or adoptive parents, we need to imagine the holidays from our child’s perspective. Something we’re really looking forward to may feel really hard for them. Let’s take a moment to spell out a few of the things our kids might...
Helping Your Kids in the Summer When School is Out
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care My kids have been out of school since last week and I am excited about the change in routine for us! Sleeping in, sunshine, lots of free time! Let’s go summer!! Even typing this makes me laugh, because there...
Holiday Tip #5: Practice Outside the Moment
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care We’ve talked a little bit in this space about making life predictable for our children and how important it is to communicate with them about the things they will experience-especially when new. You can take that...
Holiday Tip #4: Share Control
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Do you have a child who sabotages big days? Or at least maybe it feels that way sometimes? There are many reasons why this might be. We’ve talked about a few of them so far: feelings of grief and loss, sensory...
Holiday Tip #3: Predictability & Structure
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Listen I know. It’s getting harder to predict what’s going to happen next in 2020 and our sense of perceived control—gone, right? What will the holidays even look like this year?? We all do better when we think we...
Holiday Tip #2: Simplify
If you are a foster parent, you are raising a child who has experienced significant relational harm. Because of this, their bodies and brains are wired differently, and the overwhelming hustle and bustle of the holiday season can just be too much. While the child in...
Holiday Tip #1: Sad Looks Mad
So, this year the holidays may end up looking a bit different than we're used to, right? Maybe you’re excited about the opportunity to try out some new traditions or have a more simplified season. Or maybe you’re grieving the changes and wish you could go back to the...