Parenting a foster child with trauma history can be challenging.
Trauma profoundly influences brain development, impacting children’s behaviors, ability to regulate emotions, and even their capacity to form healthy relationships.
And for many, it’s coupled with attachment issues, rooted in everything from abuse and neglect early on in life to repeated moves due to broken-down placements.
Here are some signs that may indicate a child is struggling with attachment.
Parenting children with attachment issues rooted in a history of trauma can be a formidable task. To put it simply—it’s not easy to be a foster parent.
But the work is so critical. The bonds foster parents build with kids help them heal and serve as the foundation for healthy connections in adulthood.
We want to guide you on the path to parenting kids with trauma history. So, here are a few tips to help build trust and influence children’s behavior.
Tips on Parenting Kids with a History of Trauma
Meet Needs
Your #1 goal is to find out your foster child’s needs and meet them. And the best way to find out is to ask. When doing so, be direct, using exact language. For example, “What’s going on?” “What are your needs?” “How can I support you?”
Say “Yes”
Kids in foster care have little power over their lives. So, often that manifests in a desire for control.
You can go miles when it comes to building trust with children by focusing on dishing out “yes” more than “no.” The optimal ratio is 7:1, saying “yes” 7 times for every “no.”
Learn More: How to Skip Power Struggles with Kids by Saying Yes
Make Eye Contact
Our eyes speak louder than words.
Nonverbal cues are critical components of communication, especially for kids with trauma history. As often as possible, get on your foster child’s eye level when speaking to them.
Mirror Behavior
Be a mirror. Secure attachment is characterized by a healthy rhythm between children and their caregiver’s behavior. For instance, if a baby coos, their mother will coo back, or when a toddler laughs, their father laughs too.
Congruent behaviors build trust and attachment.
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