How to Prepare a Welcoming Bedroom for a New Foster Child

Foster children need to have their own bedroom and can’t share with any children you already have. This is their safe space. When preparing a bedroom for a new foster child who will be moving in, it’s important to create a space that feels welcoming, comfortable and personalised to them. As you likely don’t know the child’s specific interests yet, aim for a neutral décor that can be easily adapted later.

Choose Bright, Neutral Colours

Paint the walls an inoffensive shade like soft blue or pale yellow. Opt for neutral bedding in the child’s favourite colour if known or mixed patterns and textures that appeal to children. Don’t go overboard with strongly themed décor yet. Leave room for the child to make the space their own over time once you know them better. Add lighting fixtures they can control and accessible plug sockets to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Furnishing the Room

Provide essential furniture like a bed, dresser and desk or table and chair. Choose furniture made of soft, warm materials like wood over metal when possible. Include a comfortable reading chair next to a bookcase stocked with children’s books of different reading levels. The books will help the child feel at ease exploring the room independently. Purchase additional storage like baskets, trunks and bins that can discreetly hold toys, arts supplies, cosy blankets and anything that contributes comfort within easy reach.

Personal Touches

Help the child display special possessions they bring like awards, collections or cherished mementos. Let them choose some photos, arts and décor pieces themselves for places of honor in their private space. These familiar comforting touches will help ease the child’s transition and evoke the welcoming feeling of home.

In time, you can encourage them to add more personal touches like photographs, children’s artwork and decorative personal items to make the room truly theirs. They may not have much with them when they arrive at your home, but adding some decorative elements like pictures and ornaments will make it feel more like a bedroom.

Preparing for Their Arrival

Just before the foster child from Foster Care Associates arrives, add final touches to ensure their comfort. Stock the wardrobe or chest of drawers with basics and provide storage room for the child’s clothes. Fill the bookshelves with books suited for the child’s age and reading ability if known. Provide brand new pyjamas, underwear, basic toiletry items and their own special toy or stuffed animal on their new bed to use that very first night. Having familiar necessities and small comforts awaiting them helps underscore that this space has been specially prepared just for them.

The Key Is Flexibility

As children cope with major life changes entering foster care, maintaining a flexible mindset helps ease their transition. Provide basic furnishings selected for availability rather than just personal preference. Start with neutral décor and add personal touches once the child’s interests and needs are known.

Adapt the space to the individual child over time, continuously updating the room to reflect how they use it. Place priority on their emotional needs to guide adjustments so their bedroom environment facilitates feeling comforted, secure and validated. Follow the child’s lead in making their bedroom their very own welcoming sanctuary tailored specially to them.