Webinar: Building Safety and Connection in Foster and Adoptive Families
Session 2 – Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Environment
Upon arriving in a new environment, foster children typically feel afraid. It’s your job to help them acclimate, then gradually and gently teach rules and expectations. Assume that their current behaviors reflect what they know how to do, then introduce a new way. Throughout this process, continue building the safety and connection that are essential to your family’s well-being.
Throughout this process, continue building the safety and connection that are essential to your family’s well-being.
In Session 2, Amy Speidel draws on her background with foster care and adoption to provide specific tips and examples for teaching expectations, building structure and safety, fostering connection, and creating a foundation that makes it easier to resolve conflict. She also gives advice on unconditional love, keeping the joy and gratitude alive, and remembering to ask for support when you need it.
You may also be interested in Session 1 and Session 3 of the 3-part webinar series Building Safety and Connection in Foster and Adoptive Families.
Webinar Outline
- 00:17 When and how to focus on expectations and guidelines
- 03:55 How to build structure and safety
- 05:57 Acclimating children to a new school
- 06:30 Introducing expectations in context
- 12:08 Prioritizing what to work on first
- 15:36 Giving children opportunities to be of service
- 17:05 The word of hope: “Yet”
- 18:51 Reframing and understanding negative behaviors
- 20:45 Building a foundation that makes it easier to resolve conflict
- 24:34 Using I Love You Rituals to build connection with younger children
- 25:16 Using joint attention to build connection with older children
- 26:35 How to keep the joy alive
- 27:50 Amy’s story on the importance of asking for help
- 33:30 Modeling the behaviors you desire
- 35:07 Demonstrating unconditional love
Resource Mentions
- Webinar: Understanding Trauma with Dr. Becky Bailey
- I Love You Rituals
- Songs for I Love You Rituals Vol. 1
- Songs for I Love You Rituals Vol. 2
- Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline
Helpful Next Steps
- Session 1: Responding to the Unique Needs of your Child
- Session 3: Learning How to Deal with Difficult Behavior with Success
- Articles
- Video Gallery
- Free Resources
- Online Course with Dr. Becky Bailey – Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Schools and Homes
Amy Speidel
Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor
Amy Speidel is a delightful and insightful presenter, podcast personality and Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor. Her experience as an educator and as a Certified Parent Coach working with families within a pediatric practice provides the foundation for compassionate and relatable talks that engage parents, educators, and organizational leaders alike. Amy discovered the impact of Conscious Discipline as a teacher 20+ [...]
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