Foster carers will be aware the long Christmas break is almost at an end. The first day back at school is a weekend away. And that can be quite a long weekend. If some of the novelty of new toys is beginning to wear off, here are some seasonal ideas to enjoy as a family.

Foster a sense of seasonal fun!

When the temperature drops and the snow arrives, there is plenty of scope for fun for foster carers and their children:

• start by making your own activity calendar for the days you have left on holiday. This can be based on the idea of an advent calendar with each door, revealing the activity you have planned;

• have a snowman making competition – this is a great way to express your imagination. You don’t have to rely just on carrots or pieces of coal to bring your snowman to life. A trip to a charity shop could provide some old garments that will make your snowman just that extra bit special. Don’t forget to take a picture of your creation – it could make a great Christmas card next year;

• snowball ‘fights’ can be great fun for foster children – make sure you use powdery snow to make your snowballs – lumps of ice can be dangerous;

• sledging is great fun for foster kids –  if you are lucky enough to live near a hill. Maybe you got a toboggan for Christmas. If you did, this is the time to make use of it. If you were not that lucky, then a snow tube will do;

• a walk in the country: there is nothing more beautiful than the sight of snow-covered trees. If you are a foster child interested in photography, there will be some amazing pictures to be taken. You might use one to make a seasonal Christmas card next year. A great idea – especially if there is no snow around in a year’s time;

• how about a Christmas movie for all you foster children: there are some great films to look out for – here’s a selection: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, Elf and Miracle on 34th Street;

• Christmas card art. This is a great way to write all those thank-you letters. With scissors, paper and glue you can cut up some of the cards you have been sent and create your own personal card with a ‘thank-you’ message;

• Christmas ‘panto’: it’s a great tradition and remember that many pantomimes continue on into January. So whether it’s ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ or ‘Aladdin’ – great foster family trip is guaranteed;

• And after all that activity, how about a festive recipe or two: fancy a snowman cake? It couldn’t be simpler. Cooking together can be a great way for foster carers to build a relationships with the foster children they care for.

1. First heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Then butter and line the bases of two 18-19cm cake tins with baking parchment.

2)    Beat the butter with the sugar with a whisk until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Then you can 

       Add the eggs, then beat well, Add some lemon zest, vanilla, flour, milk and a pinch of salt and

       blend until just combined. You are then ready to divide the mixture and add to the baking tins.

3)    Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 mins. Cool the cakes in their tins for roughly 10

       minutes, then turn out onto a rack and allow to cool. 

4)    To make the buttercream is easy peasy, place the butter in bowl and beat with a whisk until

      the mixture is fluffy. Then add icing sugar 2-3 tbsp at a time adding the vanilla and milk at

      about halfway through. Then ‘sandwich’ the cakes together with a little of the buttercream and

      place them on a board. Leave to chill for around 30 mins.

5)   Now for the artistic bit for all you creative foster children! To decorate, roll out the white fondant icing on a surface dusted with

      icing sugar until the top and sides of the cake have been covered. Then drape the fondant

      icing over the cake and mould to fit.

6)   Roll out the green icing and carefully cut a semi-circle out, it’s a good idea to use the bottom

      of the cake tin to guide you. This is going to be your snowman’s hat. Gently brush one side

      with a small amount of water and then gently stick on the cake. Next carefully cut a strip of

      the green icing you have made and decorate it to look like a hat band – trim to the correct

      length and stick in place.

7)   So you can make the nose, shape a round lump from the orange icing you have made.

      Create a smile by pressing the rim of a glass into the fondant. Next: cut out two circles from the

      black icing. This will make the eyes. You can then add a small circle of white icing to make

      the eyes appear to shine. Make the scarf from the blue icing around the base of the cake. Your

      snowman cake will keep for up to a week in an airtight container in a cool place.

For some more ideas on ‘Creative Christmas Cookery for Kids’ – visit: https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collection/christmas-recipes-for-kids

And, from all of us at Team Rainbow, we wish all our foster carers and their children a Happy New New Year!

Don’t forget to visit: http://rainbowfostering.co.uk/foster-child-ideas-holiday/

Join our team of fostering professionals at Rainbow.

We have twenty-one years experience training people to become skilled foster carers. Call us on 020 8427 3355 or our National Line – 0330 311 2845. We have offices in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

We need people to foster children who come from a range of different backgrounds: single people, divorced people, married or couples living together – with or without children as well as same-sex couples. Where possible, we try to place our children and young people with foster carers who reflect their own background and cultural heritage – so we are keen to find foster carers representing all ethnicities and religions.