Bonding activities to do with foster children

When welcoming a foster child into your home, you will seek to create a familial bond with them and make them feel at home in their new living situation.

Although forming a bond can occasionally be difficult – especially in the case of short-term fostering – there are various child and family-friendly activities you can do that will enable them to open up and build the foundation for a foster carer and child relationship.

Here are some tips from us at Beacon Fostering about activities that can help you bond with the child in your foster care.

Gardening

If you have a garden, big or small, this is an excellent opportunity to show your foster child or children about how things grow. You could show them how to create a compost bin, repot plants, dead head roses or prune bushes.

It’s also a great way for children to explore different textures and learn about various types of flowers, miniature trees and shrubs, and grow fruit and vegetables such as apples, tomatoes and potatoes.

Volunteering

This is a great way to socialise with, and give back to, the local community. There are various things you and your foster child can get involved in, from working in a charity shop, to helping out at soup kitchens and community centres. Young people who are figuring out what career or job they want in the future can also gain an insight into what working within the charity sector is like.

Arts and crafts

There are many types of crafts you can get children involved in, allowing them to unleash their creativity and decorate their homes and belongings. While painting and drawing are good places to start, you could also paint stones, knit, crochet or sew together.