Foster Parenting E-Magazine, September 2012
Foster Parenting Announcements
Photolisting: Now is the perfect time to raise foster and adoption awareness. If you have your own blog or website, perhaps you would like to add our Photo Listing Widget to help raise awareness of foster children nationwide.
Would you like to help more children from your agency get adopted faster? Click here for a form to add children to our photolisting. This service is FREE to all states and includes a team of technical support and customer service staff to maintain the Photolisting.
Don't see any children from your state? Please contact your local officials to let them know you would like to see children from your state.
Blogging: Interested in Blogging? We're currently looking for volunteer bloggers for the following categories: Foster Adoption and Foster Care. This may be the perfect time to voice your adoption experiences and share with our community.
Teaching Proper Behavior Through Consistency
As a foster parent, you know how your foster children can be mixed bags of emotions, needs, and personal experiences. Because of this, your foster children may act out or have a difficult time following the rules of your household. And perhaps the hardest part of it all is that the behavior can be so unpredictable. Some days, your foster children may not have any issues with the rules. Other days, they will revolt with everything in them. But one great way to teach and reinforce proper behavior is through consistency. And here are a few things to keep in mind as you progress:
Respond Quickly - If your foster children misbehave, it's important that you respond quickly. This doesn't mean that you should react in the heat of the moment. It means respond while the situation is still fresh on both your minds so you both can end up on the same page. Whether you need to discipline, remind, or just have a chat about an issue, do it in a timely manner.
Listen to Their Concerns - One important aspect of teaching through consistency is to listen to your foster children's concerns or explanations for improper behavior. The old adage is true--there are two sides to every story. Help them to feel heard and understood. This can help improve behavior and help your foster children feel more at home within your family.
Encourage Honesty - Be honest with how certain behaviors make you feel and let them share their honest thoughts and opinions, too. Allow your home to be open to honest discussion, but make sure to acknowledge when a discussion has turned into an unproductive argument.
Identify Appropriate Discipline - Not every form of discipline will be effective for each of your foster children. So, you may have to tailor a punishment or consequence for each child. However, make sure the discipline is appropriate in general and appropriate for the degree of misbehavior.
Stay Positive - While it can be easy to focus on the negative behavior from your foster children, it's essential that you also pay attention to the positive behavior. Congratulate them for achievements. Thank them for help around the house. Acknowledge their good work. Staying positive can help your foster children feel safe, loved, and valued.
Be an Example - One of the best and most effective ways to encourage proper behavior is to be an example of that behavior. It will never work if your foster children see you doing the opposite of what you're telling them. Be consistent and be involved.
Teaching your foster children proper and acceptable behavior through consistency will require a lot of work, but the results will be worth it. Children of all ages need consistency. That produces an environment for learning and learning retention, and it will also create a more positive and streamlined home environment.
The Adoption Photolisting
Hoping to Adopt? Create Your Profile Today and get 30 Days FREE!
Sign up with Parent Profiles to create your adoption profile today and start connecting with expectant and placing parents. Your profile will be featured on many of the best known adoption websites. Mention you saw this ad or when completing your paperwork use code PPCN and we will give you 30 days free*.
*Contact ParentProfiles.com for details.
The information and links displayed above relate to profile posting services provided on the ParentProfiles.com web site, which is a service of Adoption Profiles, L.L.C., who sponsors this section and is solely responsible for its content.
Foster Parenting Blogs from AdoptionBlogs.com
Reading
It is almost time to begin thinking about school again. The shelves of the local stores are filling up with crayons, paper and pencils... more
To iPad or Not to iPad
That is the question that I am mulling over currently as I look to the new school year. I have one child that has not ‘got it’ educationally... more
Foster Parenting Community, News & Events
Foster Parent Support - A fine line? And getting on with life.....
Foster Parent Support - Taking Time Off Work?
Foster Parent Support - Is this acceptable?
Foster Parent Support - sleep!
Add your non-marketing adoption related event at no cost. Get started today by registering for an account.
Foster Parenting Tip of the Month
Being a foster parent takes a special type of person. If you feel you could change the life of a foster child in need, you should look into it. There are so many children in need of a home, even a temporary one.
In Your Words
Have a question? Comment? In Your Words is your way to reach out to the adoption community and get tips from others and share important information.
Share Your Thoughts with Us
Have something to share in the next issue of the emag? Please use the form below to tell us about your thoughts, comments, experiences, feedback, etc. Your submission may appear in an upcoming issue of the emag.
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