School Daze
School Daze With school back in session, there are additional supports that children and youth in foster care can benefit from. All students can benefit from softer transitioning and preparatory support…
mother holding a cat supervises her school-age daughter doing her homework
Love Them One Day at a Time: Letting Go of a Child or Youth
Love Them One Day at a Time: Letting Go of a Child or Youth As a former foster parent, I was inundated with advice and unsolicited reminders that my time…
Sweetest day. Mother and daughter eating donuts on city street. Close up. Copy space.
Rituals versus Routines: Both Can Keep Your Home More Peaceful
Rituals versus Routines: Both Can Keep Your Home More Peaceful If you think routines and rituals are the same, you wouldn’t be alone. Although they share a sense of regularity—a routine…
Father and teenage daughter with head in his shoulder sharing something funny in a mobile phone
Why Fostering Older Teens Matters So Much
Why Fostering Older Teens Matters So Much For those of us who have parented or actively supported the growth of a child or youth, we have all wanted about the…
little girl playing outdoor - child kids and friend happy.
Spring Break: Nature and the Developing Brain
Spring Break: Nature and the Developing Brain “Go outside!”“Go to the park!”“Go to the pool!”We have all been told these directives or said them ourselves. We know that being outside not…
Boy with Grandfather
Acting Out! Understanding Seemingly Senseless Behavior in Teens
Acting Out! Understanding Seemingly Senseless Behavior in Teens When your teen is behaving in ways that are confusing or irrational, that is the time for you, as a caregiver, to…
Minimizing the Impact of Sibling Rivalry
Minimizing the Impact of Sibling Rivalry Sibling rivalry is normal. But understanding its roots and how to minimize its negative impacts can both positively affect sibling relationships (and their family)…
We cannot selectively numb emotions
“We cannot selectively numb emotions. When we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”—Brené Brown Emotions are a necessary part of being human. They help us stay…
Family are playing charades at christmas time in the living room of their home. It's the mother's turn and everyone is trying to guess.
When Too Much Gift Giving Can Cause Harm for Youth from Hard Places
When Too Much Gift Giving Can Cause Harm for Youth from Hard Places Most foster and kin parents are very aware of the hurts and traumas of children and youth…
Adults and kids sitting on the grass in a garden
Parties Aren’t Always Fun and Games for Kids in Care
Parties Aren’t Always Fun and Games for Kids in Care Caregivers work hard to make birthdays and social gatherings fun and plentiful for children. But without preventative and proactive support…