September's Support Group topic
Establishing Boundaries
The multilayer topic of establishing boundaries applies for you and your foster child. Learn how to identify your own boundaries and prepare your child to set their own boundaries. Boundaries (whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual) are undervalued, and they help set the stage for healthier relationships in all aspects of life.
Brené Brown on Setting Boundaries
In this video Brené briefly recaps the importance of boundary setting. She asks the question:
“What boundaries need to be in place for me to stay in my integrity and make the most generous assumptions of others?”
She speaks wisdom on how setting a boundary is difficult but crucial to love others well. This is true for any household and but it is especially significance as you navigate foster parenting and seek out longevity over burnout.
Kids Need to Learn Boundary Setting Too!
This video guides parents through a discussion with their kids on what boundaries are whether they are physical, mental, emotional. And how to assist children in identifying when they feel uncomfortable because of a breach of boundaries.
She emphasizes the importance for children to feel empowered to say “no” when they do not feel comfortable and encourages parents to models this behavior as well.
Teaching Boundary Setting Skills to Children in Foster Care
Here is a highly recommended short read that breaks down four types of boundaries for children to understand in age appropriate ways.
It explains why this type of hands-on teaching is necessary for a foster child who may not have a healthy introduction to appropriate boundaries. It takes a gentle approach while instilling the value of a child’s ability to identify and implement their boundaries with others.
Click here to read.
Stranger Danger vs. Strange Behavior
Watch the following Reel and discover how stranger danger may not be as important as teaching your child about strange behavior.
Children are more likely to be harmed by someone they know. Learning to identify strange behavior is important for any child. Your foster child may have not received proper understand of how adults should behave and therefore do not have the skills to set appropriate boundaries.
How might you begin a conversation with your child about what stranger behavior is and how to set healthy boundaries?
Bluey and Boundaries
Bluey can teach us many things. In this Yoga Ball episode, we learn from the perspective of a child how we may need others to encourage us in our own boundary setting, as well as how as adults we can help the children in our care feel confident setting their own boundaries.
You can read more about this episode here.