getting

Congrats on the placement!!! For us that was a great age!! My DH and I were fostering a 2.5 year old boy that didn't have much rountine as well. I am a working mom so rountine was much needed. We picked him up at the local DCFS office on a Wednesday afternoon and I took off the remaining of the week for us to bond. The next day he had a family visit so it was nice being able to see his biomom and dad. We also had to do some shopping since he did not have alot of clothing to wear. Friday we needed to look at a few daycare centers and enroll him. Since my DH and I both work, Monday through Friday was very structured basically I woke him up in the morning got myself ready for work and then woke him up, feed him and got him ready for daycare and dropped him off. I picked him up after work and we went home and ate dinner (sometimes we would play a little outside before dinner depending on the weather or what time I got home from work). We would generally allow him to watch one of his favorite TV shows and some play time (if we didn't have something we needed to do outside the house). Then it was bubble bath time (his favorite) which allowed him to generally wind down a little. Then he would watch a family friendly TV show with us and fall asleep, we could never get him to fall asleep in his bed so we found this was the only thing that worked. I would shower at night after he feel asleep because I needed someone else in the house just incase he woke up. When we picked him up we were told he liked pretty much any food but veggies, he would eat them but we needed to coach him a little. If he is eating nothing but junk food all the time I would try to get him eating a few healthy things at a time. Maybe start with healthy kid friendly food that tastes kinda good (chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and veggies if you can) On weekends we really didn't have much of a structure just hanging out at home and doing our needed errunds. I would definately start with a meal and bedtime routine. Our FFS went with what we told him unless it was something regarding falling asleep in his bed or later brushing his teeth. I think if you say this is how its going to be (within reason) they will conform to your family structure. Praise works well for getting him to do what is appropriate. When he got out of control time outs work wonders. I am not sure if he is potty trained yet but that would be the next step if he is asking.

Hello and congratulations! It has been only 4 months for us and our little boy who is 3 nearly 4. I found that routine is as important for ourselves as it is the child. Making plans and having routines really reduces any anxieties or stresses felt by the parents which of course helps the child. We all know that children need routine and boundaries but in my experience, so do we, especially if like me you are a first time mum. My belief is, start as you mean to go on whilst being open to change, for the better! I hope this helps a little. xx