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how to prepare a bedroom for a foster child

Arriving at a new foster home is a daunting experience for any child. Not only do they have to familiarise themselves with new people, but also new surroundings and routines, possibly even new foods as well.


Every foster child will have their own bedroom in a home (unless they are siblings that are able to share) and the way foster carers prepare this bedroom can make all the difference to helping a child or young person feel at home.

Baby holding a teddy bear

things to consider when preparing a foster child's bedroom

We want it to look warm and cosy, but we want there to be space for them to put their own identification on the room. What’s their favourite colour? Could you get a throw blanket in their favourite colour? Could you do a neutral colour and then add soft furnishings in the child’s favourite colour?


Sometimes you can interact with the placement planning team to know these things in advance, or you might have a profile shared with you. If it’s an emergency placement then you would need to keep things neutral.

 

It's lovely to consider how you can make the room smell nice but you want to avoid making it like a hotel room. A pristine clean room might be unnerving to a child that hasn’t lived in that kind of environment before. Put a new teddy on their bed because even though they say they don’t like it, a lot of them still do like a teddy.


It's important to ensure they have a clock and it's worth considering a night light or dimmer switch so they have the option of never being left in darkness.

Bluetooth speaker

Another nice touch is a bluetooth speaker or CD player so they can listen to audiobooks and music. Background noise can be comforting when you're in an unfamiliar place.

 

It sends a strong message of value and care when you put new towels and toiletries in their room, as well as feminine hygiene products in the bathrooms if you’re looking after teenagers.


Maybe include a couple of empty photo frames on the furniture so they can put photos of the people they love in those frames. The photos could be of friends, a pet, or family members.


other things to do when a new foster child moves in

When you have a child come to stay with you it’s important that you give them a tour of the house, so they know where the top of the stairs are and the bathroom. It’s daunting for a child to get up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar place and a tour can help them manage this scenario.


Consider the noises that are so familiar to you, which might be unnerving to someone new. For example, if you run your washing machine at night and it can be quite loud when it's spinning, let the child know so it doesn't frighten them.


It's also important to help the child understand what it will be like living in your home and what people's routines are like. For example, you might tell the child, 'John gets up at 6am so you might hear someone walking around. I will come and knock on your door, what time do you need to be up in the morning?'

 

Whether you put them in the child's room or in a communal space, age appropriate books and toys are important to have in the home as well.


A woman cutting cookie dough with a cookie cutter

Finally, we all know what the most welcoming smell is when you walk into a house... The smell of something baking! Whether it's bread, cookies, or a nice meal, it's great way of helping the child feel safe and welcome.


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