So, you have made the decision to foster! You found an agengy. Completed your training, and passed your home study.
Now what?
Now comes the fun part! Getting your house and the kid’s rooms ready for when they arrive! But, what do you need to get? How do you decorate their rooms? How do you know what they will like? How do you make them feel at home?
There is so much to figure out!!
When we were waiting on the boys to move in, our house was literally flipped on it’s head. We had to shuffle bedrooms for my three biological kids and then make room for three new bodies. And, later, another bed when our other kiddo moved in. It was crazy for a while, but we did learn a few things along the way!
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Use Neutral Colors
We had a little bit of an advantage here because we had plenty of visits with our kids before the day they finally moved in so they were able to help pick wall color. That said, I still wanted the rooms to be neutral enough to grow with their changing interests. Neutral wall colors accommodate lots of different decor and colors. This way, your kiddo can have some choice, and you can still have a great looking space! We also stocked up on these sheet sets. The kids love the feel of them and they look great! We went with the light grey, winter white and oatmeal.
Allow Them to Choose Their Bedspreads
About a week before the boys moved in, we got on Amazon and picked out some comforters for their beds. It was a great way for them to personalize their space. The best part is that everything arrived before move in day, so the boys could get their beds together first thing.
A Few Practical Items
Kids are rough on their stuff!! Mattress protectors are vital! We don’t want to even discuss all the things that can end up on beds. If you want your mattresses to last for a good while, BUY MATTRESS PROTECTORS! We ordered the hypo-allergenic ones, because you just never know when a kiddo might have allergies. The difference in cost was very slight.
Toiletries
We eventually got around to the kids picking out some of their own things as far as body wash and shampoo, but things were so busy for the first week or so, having a caddy already ready filled with toiletries was a life saver! Plus, they liked having the whole set up already waiting for them. I stocked ours with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, and deodorant.
Welcome Basket
We had lots of time with our boys before they moved in, but this is not always the case. I love the idea of having a little welcome basket filled with some snacks and goodies. When kiddos first come to you, they may not want to ask for snacks and such. If you don’t want food in the room, you might want to leave the basket in a designated spot in the kitchen and make sure they know where it is and that it’s theirs.
Night Lights
This one is so important for so many reasons. When the boys first moved in, we had night lights in the hall, bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedrooms. Anywhere they might need to get to at night, we had a night light. There is nothing worse than needing something and not being able to see anything. The boys were given lights for their rooms as well and given the option to keep them on or off at night. At first, the lights were on most nights. I’m not sure they would have communicated this need to me, so it was nice for this to be in their control.
Waiting for that first placement is so exciting! Easing their transition by making them feel like the space is a little more theirs is so important! I would love to answer any questions you might have!
If you would like to read some more about our journey through foster care to adoption… What to Expect When You Adopt a Teenager
