Articles Index
Tips to Help Foster or Adopted Children Participate in Sleepovers Successfully
Sleepovers are a normal part of the growing-up experience and part of being a foster parent is helping foster children recapture some of these normal experiences. Here are a few ideas to help you and your child manage sleepovers and feel like they are a part of the group.
Foster Family Vacation Planning
Foster family vacation planning begins with knowing your family and your foster child. Begin there with realistic expectations of both and your family vacation planning should be easy! If not, here are a few things to consider to help you get started.
What to Do When Allegations Have Been Made Against You or Your Family
Handling allegations is just a part of being a foster parent. Because adoptive parents are often adopting children with similar needs as foster children, allegations against them as adoptive parents is also not a rare occurrence. Here are a few tips on surviving allegations.
It's Never too Early for Creating a Life Book
If fostering a very young child, know that it's not only important to begin creating a life book for the birth parents of the child, but also for the child himself. Learn more about creating a life book for your foster or adopted child.
What to Do if an Adoption Search Angel Is Not Available
What should a person do if after looking at our adoption search angel listing, there needed search area is not covered by an adoption search angel? What should a person do if they don't know which state to even begin an adoption search?
Physical Touch Is One of the 5 Love Languages
The 5 Love Languages includes physical touch which may be easy, but also tricky with some foster and adopted children. Learn more about the physical touch love language and how to keep everyone comfortable while meeting this one of the 5 love languages.
10 Different Ways to Meet Words of Affirmation Love Language
Dr. Chapman's book, The Five Love Languages utilizes the idea that each of us have different love languages, or we give and receive love in different ways. If your child seems to thrive on the Words of Affirmation Love Language, here are a few ideas on how to build bonds with your child with different love languages.
One of the Five Love Languages Includes Receiving Gifts
Dr. Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages feels that every person has an "emotional tank." How many of us are parenting children from the foster care system or from an orphanage that are operating on empty love tanks? If your child seems to thrive on the Love Language Gifts, here are a few ideas on learning one of the easiest of the five love languages.
Build on the Love Language Quality Time with These 10 Ideas
Dr. Gary Chapman feels that there are 5 languages of love and one of the love languages is quality time. If your child seems to thrive on the Love Language Quality Time, here are a few ideas on how to build those bonds with your child with more quality time.
The Five Love Languages Includes Acts of Service
According to Dr. Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, we all feel love and give love to others through one of the five love languages, but we all have a primary love language in which we best feel loved. One of the love languages is acts of service.
Avoiding Communication Problems Between Foster Parents and Social Workers
Some communication problems between foster parents and social workers occur due to what may seem like a lack of respect and perhaps unmet expectations of what each assumes the roles are of the other within the foster care system. To best avoid these communication problems it is important to establish roles and expectations.
Foster Parents Plan for the First Day of a New Foster Care Placement
Experienced foster parents plan for the first day of a new foster care placement and how to set basic rules at the very beginning of the placement. Already have an idea of how to plan for that first day.
School Child Safety Issues for Foster Children
Many foster children often lack training and guidance in child safety matters that most of us learned before the age of five. Here are the top child safety issues that we have ran into as foster parents.
Helping Your Child Navigate Social Networking and Birth Family
Throwing a foster or adopted child into the complex world of navigating contact with birth family via social networking, maintaining confidentiality, as well as keeping emotions in check. Well, it's just a lot to handle for anyone at any age. Here are some quick tips on how to handle social networking and your child.
Tips for Better Handling Social Media, Your Teenager and Adoption Reunions
Social Media - Adoption Reunions Are Becoming Easier Thanks to Social Media
Preparing for the 4th of July
The 4th of July is fun, but it can also be scary for some foster children or newly adopted children. Many children have not been giving the opportunity to celebrate with fireworks. There are many joyous things about the 4th of July, but also many possible scary things.
I Became a Foster Parent - Did I Make a Mistake?
While you may be feeling a bunch of different emotions, you are not alone in that thinking and it doesn't matter if you're a brand new foster parent or a foster parent with many years of experience. Some new foster placements can bring with them a lot of self-doubt and brand new challenges.
Combing and Detangling
African American hair needs special care. Learn how to properly comb African American hair.
Using the Wrong Products
Using the right products on African American hair is very important. African American hair needs special care.
Over Shampooing
African American hair care tip, do not over shampoo. African American hair needs special hair care.
Under Conditioning
Do not under condition African American hair. African American hair needs special care.
Make a Copy of Your Foster or Adopted Child's Lifebook
Make a copy of your foster or adopted child's lifebook to help preserve their memories. There are many reasons to copy the child's lifebook.
Write Everything You Know to Find Birth Parents
Unfortunately many seeking to find birth parents discount some information thinking it's not important. Remember that every detail counts when trying to find birth parents.
Where Do I Find the State and Local Numbers on My Birth Certificate?
If you are an adoptee searching for your birth family, your adoption search angel may request numbers off of your birth certificate. Learn why a birth certificate number is important during an adoption search.
African American Hair and Ponytails
Pig tails or ponytails are cute, but can cause damage to African American Hair. Learn a few quick tips to keep your child's african american hair looking great.