I've been a foster parent for almost 10 years and over the years I have met many of my foster children's grandparents. Grandparents are usually very involved in foster cases, either as support to the children and their families, or as possible resources for future placement. I try to keep that connection going by making sure that the foster children's grandparents know what is happening with the children and by giving them simple gifts on special occasions. This means a lot to the grandparents, especially if that special gift is a cute picture of their grandchild. I've seen thankful tears in their eyes as they open up a present to find a small scrapbook filled with current, candid snapshots of the children they love.
Here are some other quick and easy gift ideas for grandparents and other extended family of foster or adopted children.
- Frame artwork or coloring book pages that the children have completed.
- Create a small, simple scrapbook with candid pictures of the kids.
- Frame pictures of the kids.
- Purchase Christmas ornaments that are small picture frames or create one yourself by gluing the child's picture to a flat, wooden ornament.
- Create a hand print flower .
- Create a hand print Lily.
- Create a hand print heart.
- Create a footprint chick.
- Create a larger hand print flower that includes a picture of the child.
- Create a footprint ghost.
Create a time line using the above hand print or footprint projects.
