My Foster Care Home Essentials

In this episode, I share some things that I find to be most useful in my foster home.

(Affiliate links)

SELF-SERVE FOOD STATION

BOOKS:

CALMING TOOLS:

Find Me on Social Media:

00:00 Intro
00:15 Snack Cart
02:13 Books
05:54 Calming Tools

#fostercare #fosterparenting #fosterparent

[allison]

I was a case worker for years and LOVE your videos. They are so kind and real. They've also inspired me to reevaluate how I've approached different cases and conversations in the past. Whenever I meet anyone looking into fostering, I'm definitely going to share your channel with them!

[alexandragrace]

I was a homeless child. It was dreadful. Watching your videos inspires me to become a foster parent one day when I’m older.

[miss.lakill]

Oh my god. The snack cart is so so spot on. I was gaslit into thinking I had a binge eating disorder for years and was constantly being grounded and punished for "stealing food".

It wasn't until I was an adult managing my own meals that I realized—not only did experiencing food insecurity play a huge role.

But that the way my behavior was mismanaged by workers and adults deeply affected my development.

Being strict and trying to control a childs diet who has experienced something like that EXACERBATES hoarding and stealing.

And its something I desperately wish people had understood while I was growing up.

[carolbamforth]

I always had a bowl of fruits and vegetables for kids to help themselves to. And Friday nights were make your own pizza. Kids loved rolling out the dough and cutting ( with help) what they wanted on them.

[hannahxx]

A great thing about rotating out the toys/fidgets in the calm kit is that they wont be associated with difficult moments. I know for me when I've had an item regularly used as a calming tool during hard moments, that item became representative of bad feelings and whenever I saw that same item somewhere all those feelings would come flooding back.

[lauramolen]

I worked with children at a domestic abuse program, and I used “A Terrible Thing Happened” quite a bit. It’s a great book!

[dreaming-of-spots]

I had a weighted blanket in college- my little group of friends and I all had various mental issues (trauma or anxiety or depression, ADHD, etc) and we passed that thing between each other like a hot potato depending on who needed it that night. It was (still is) a wonderful calming aid.

[darcymoon]

I love how wonderfully visual the big the containers of cereal at the top are. If feeling a little anxious there it is: giant mound of cereal just for them.

[sam_i_am_.]

Thank you for what you do. I was in foster care and had been intentionally starved when I was living at home. My foster parents allowed free access to all food and honestly it was exactly what I needed.

[leeannsolice]

LOVE your snack cart! Did this for my own kids when they were young and it also made a nice support in our neighborhood for any kid who might need a little snack (their parents knew our home had this.) I also took one of the drawers in my fridge and turned it into always allowed/accessible kid snacks (or small meals) like little packs of carrots/ranch, cheese cubes, lunchables, fruit cups, "gogurt" and other items that needed a refrigeration. My kids knew that drawer was always ok to access and to offer to visiting friends. This was a lifesaver for me when my kids were that older elementary age when they were allowed to play with other friends on our street and were just little roving bands of kiddos moving from bikes, to skateboards, trampolines all over the neighborhood and then would straggle into the kitchen of the nearest home thirsty and peckish. No need to stop my work as a little line of sweaty kids all helped themselves to an item from the drawer or cart. I know fostering may not allow such unsupervised roaming, but we were lucky to have about 4-5 parents on our street who trusted each other with kids having access to play in all the yards within sight of their home. Love your work and wish you all the best.

[scobeymeister]

I don't know if I'll ever be in a place in my life where I'll need this advice, but I'm crying into my coffee seeing you put so much effort and so much care into helping children feel safe and seen in a situation where they have so little control. I hope to one day be able to do this sort of good. Thank you for puttng this out into the world ❤❤❤

[rubylovelet]

I was a foster youth that aged out. I had mixed experiences in foster care, I had both foster parents that were amazing and foster parents that unfortunately did more harm than good. Watching this video and seeing everything you do for your fosters. Made me cry a little please continue to foster! You absolutely hit spot on for alot of stuff that helped me during my time in care. 💖💞 I hope more people like you start to foster!

[kjw]

I am beyond impressed and moved by the love and concern you show for these children. My heart aches for them; what a blessing that people like you are willing and able to step up.

[solitarelee]

When I saw the play room you have I got so excited I had to stop the video lol. I'm autistic and somehow you have a ton of my all time favorite childhood toys. The expanding ball! The fun textured plushies! THE GIANT COUCH BUILDING THINGS MY GOD. There was a playroom for kids attached to a museum near where I grew up and I used to get to go there once a year with my best friend and it was one of the highlights of my young life because of these things. You definitely have an amazing set-up.

[NinaM]

As a foster kid I really wish I had a foster parent like you 😢

[AllieAtkinson]

I really appreciated you explaining why it’s important to have the junk food in your home. At first I was a little confused because it’s one of the worst things for a disregulated system, especially for growing bodies. I love that your perspective of how it can be familiar and therefore soothing really opened my mind. I hope to be a foster parent one day in the next few years and I’m going to subscribe to learn more tips and tricks!

[nikkicanetti]

I wish I had found your channel when we had our foster kids in our home 😭 I realize how that experience didn’t have to be quite as hard as it was. We are on hiatus right now, but hopefully next time we can have new tools and ideas to help make things a little smoother!

[Itsjustmehere]

I don't know anyone fostering and I probably won't but these seem so amazing

[DallasAustin]

I am about to start the process, a lifelong desire to give hope, love, stability and care in a safe, caring environment! Got the green light from the agency this week. Both my children are grown and this desire has never left. These videos are awesome! Binge watching now!

[bevsmith]

My sister was a sister parent for years. I was fingerprinted and I was allowed to watch the kids if she needed to go anywhere. She ended up adopting 3 kids and they all call me aunt and I love them so much! Thank you for these videos!
She kept comfort foods available and always took them shopping to get things they were familiar with. The last one she got was living in coffee and that’s it. But y her shopping and getting her the foods she liked really helped her to begin to eat. She loved candy and so I love candy as well and we bonded over that. I always bright her candy but always asked my sister first if she could have it. We kept things safe and had good things for the kids. All the kids she’s had still call me aunt and that just blesses me.