This will be a more "formal" post than others. If it's helpful, I wanted to share the rule posters and schedules we made for our Little Lady with other foster parents out there.
Currenty, there are lots of words on the posters. We'd like to take pictures of her doing each activity and then make the posters more visually appealing.
We've already changed her bedtime routine a little bit, so we'd like to put each activity on magnetic strips so we can move them around if needed.
- We hold hands and pray.
- We eat the meal prepared (if we don't like the meal, we make a PBJ sandwich or eat leftovers.)
- We use our manners - polite bites, chewing, swallowing, using napkins.
- We share our highs and lows from the day.
- We stay seated until most people are finished eating.
- We throw scraps in the trash and place our dishes next to the sink.
- We change our underwear every 24 hours (or more often.)
- We wear most clothes one time, then wash them. Some pants can be worn twice.
- We always wear shorts under a dress.
- We always wear a cami under white shirts or dresses, see-through shirts, or low-cut shirts.
- We always ask in a question:
~ "Will you please help me..."
~ "Can you please hand me that..."
~ "Will you help me..., please?"
- We always say please.
- We speak in a big-girl, 7-year-old voice.
- If we're angry, we take a few breaths before we talk to each other.
- We talk about our fights after everyone calms down, we hug, and we forgive each other.
LL's Morning Routine:
- Use restroom, wash face
- Change into school clothes and shoes
- Brush teeth and floss (if needed)
- Fix our hair, chapstick, headband
- Eat breakfast, clean plate
- One TV show before leaving the house by 7:20 (if time for TV) or play with Lucy
- Grab backpack, lunch, coat, anything else for school
- Toys stay in backpack during school
- Goodbye hugs! ❤️
- 15 minute break after school
- Finish all homework
- Play time with Lucy
- Dinner, help clean plate, share highs and lows
- Watch one TV show or play outside if it's nice
- Bedtime routine:
~ Bath/shower
~ Change into sleeping clothes (if not bathing, wash feet & face)
~ Brush teeth and floss, go to the bathroom
~ Good night to Lucy
~ Read, sing, pray
~ Goodnight hugs
~ 10 minutes quiet time with animals, sleep
Saturday:
- Sleep in a little, eat breakfast, get ready
- Play with Lucy or outside if it's nice
- Clean bathroom and bedroom (with help)
- Lunch, clean up
- Afternoon activities
- 1st grade activities
- Dinner/bedtime routine
- Set out clothes for church
Sunday:
- Morning routine by 8:15 - begin
- Church 9:45-
- Lunch with family
- Play with Lucy or outside if it's nice
- Afternoon activities
- Get ready for school, laundry
- Dinner/bedtime routine
What happens if we don't do what we were supposed to, or if we are disrespectful?
- 1st time: We try to change the way we said/did it and fix it immediately.
- 2nd time: 5 minute time-in (five minute timer, adult sitting next to me without talking or playing.)
- 3rd time: Item removed or consequence assigned. Ex: Playing with the hula hoop in the house, no hula hoop rest of day.
LL is playing with the hula hoop in the living room. Mr. Brian reminds her that it's an outside toy only. LL has two options: keep playing or put it away.
Option 1: LL puts the hula hoop away and plays with an inside toy. Yeah! We fixed it on our own!
Option 2: LL continues to hula hoop in the living room. 5 minute time-in is assigned. LL continues to play with the hula hoop inside. No hula hoop until tomorrow.
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About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
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Awesome
ReplyDeleteah!! my parents could have learned a lot from you guys! haha
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