Adriel Blog > March 4, 2024

Fresh Take: A Spring Cleaning Checklist for Foster Parents

March roars in with the promise of a blossoming season, brighter days, and fresh perspective. It seems to have a universal effect of motivating healthy spring cleaning.

We often think of spring cleaning as the time for flipping mattresses, washing windows, and clearing out the clutter. Nothing wrong with that! But our spring cleaning checklist for foster families goes beyond the usual housekeeping to incorporate what matters most:

• Your kids’ physical and emotional wellbeing
• Your own physical and emotional wellbeing
• Feelings of inclusion and belonging
• Opportunities to get and give community support

Before we dig in, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t doing some spring cleaning of our own. The more work we do, the more we want to do. There are so many opportunities to help kids and families in Ohio thrive. Click if you’re ready to help with a donation or scroll to see all the great ideas on our spring cleaning checklist!

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Not Your Average Housekeeping To-Do Items

Every season brings opportunities to enhance the foster care journey for parents and kids. While we fully support the instinct to make your home sparkle in the springtime, we have some additional ideas to help the whole family sparkle inside and out.

1. Clear the Path for a Positive Experience for Your Foster Kids

The wellbeing of your foster kids (and all children) is closely tied to their hierarchy of needs, from basic food, water, shelter, safety, and belonging to feeling heard, understood, and important. Our spring cleaning checklist starts with three suggestions that help address a range of needs for the overall wellbeing of your foster children:

1. Foster Teamwork and Accountability – Go ahead and do the normal list of spring cleaning chores but be sure to involve the kids. Make it fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt to find the things that need the most work. Being trusted with responsibility can boost their confidence and sense of belonging.
2. Check-In with Your Foster Child – Ask what they need to feel more comfortable in their space. Let kids express their feelings and needs in a safe, supportive way. You might uncover an opportunity to rethink your home environment to help them feel happier, more creative, or more fulfilled.
3. Refresh Emergency Kits and Safety Precautions – Ensure first- aid kits and essentials are ready for any unexpected accidents or issues. Update or remove childproofing based on the ages and inclinations of the kids in your care. Secure hazardous items and remove broken or outdated furniture.

2. Clear Out the Clutter that Might Be Holding You Back

The same is true for you! It’s well-documented that you can’t take the best care of those around you until you’ve taken the best care of yourself. And it’s very easy for busy parents to get bogged down with the clutter of everyday life. Next up on our spring cleaning checklist for foster parents are three recommended areas of focus that can help support your own wellbeing and peace of mind.

1. Revisit Self-Care Practices – Schedule time for mental and emotional well-being. Reconnect with other foster families, caseworkers, or support groups. It might even be a good time to consider taking advantage of Respite Care to help you recharge.
2. Organize and Simplify – Reduce email and mail clutter from unnecessary subscriptions. Ensure emergency contacts, caseworkers, therapists, and support networks are current. Set up a digital family calendar to help coordinate appointments, school events, and visitations easily.
3. Audit Household Finances – Cut unnecessary costs to reallocate funds for experiences or needs that support the child. Ensure you're utilizing available support services and stipends. Look into college savings, scholarships, or life skills programs for older youth.

3. Foster Inclusion and Belonging Throughout Your Shared Space

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, we can start thinking about the overall environment in the household. Is it set up to support family bonding, personal space, and open communications? Have things changed since you first welcomed your foster child into your home? Our spring cleaning checklist helps you carve out space for positive family dynamics and enrichment.

1. Rearrange Living Spaces – Adapt rooms to make them more welcoming for new placements and growing kids. Set up clear “common” space for family connections as well as cozy spaces for reading, decompressing, or quiet time. You might even just change things up to keep it fresh and give the kids a say in what goes where. Make it a fun family activity!
2. Reassess House Rules & Routines – Make sure they are trauma-informed and adaptable for new children. Make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of needs and expectations. Find small, meaningful ways to bond, like a weekly movie night or special outings – put them on the family calendar so they’re not an afterthought!
3. Make the Calendar More than a Calendar – Turn your family calendar into a creative ongoing family activity and a physical representation of everything from cultural connections and traditions to recognition of accomplishments and random acts of kindness. Make it big! Check things off and celebrate something every day.

4. Expand Your Thinking Beyond Four Walls and a Roof

Finally, our faith reminds us to include the community in everything we do, and spring cleaning is no exception. There are terrific opportunities to be mindful and generous and set a great example for your kids and foster kids. We also want you to remember who’s here to support YOU! There are just three more items on our spring cleaning checklist for foster parents.

1. Reassess Training and Support – In your efforts to declutter and organize, you might find paperwork and checklists from when you first got licensed as a foster parent. Is your training up to date? Have you been taking advantage of coaching and other support services at your disposal? Now might be a great time to sign up for a class or join a support group.
2. Declutter with Purpose – Donate unused toys, clothes, and books to foster agencies or families in need. Sorting through a playroom, closet, toybox, or cubbies with your kids with the intention of giving things away can help them recognize their own growth, think about other kids, and feel the pride and satisfaction of deciding to share.
3. Contribute Your Found Treasure of Time or Money – With all of your decluttering, reorganizing, clearing and cleaning, you might find anything from spare change to spare time. Before you lose track of the bounty, think about where it could be even more valuable. Volunteer as a family to help other foster children or mentor new foster parents. Support a campaign at your church or foster agency. It’s the best feeling to help others!

Activating YOUR Spring Cleaning Checklist

Bonus tip: Don’t try to check it all off at once! Your list should be truly your own, focusing on the items that mean the most for your family.

Do a fun family mattress flip-off and then hit the playroom to rediscover or give away old toys and games. Rearrange the furniture together and then sit on it to plan your summer activities and organize your family calendars. Pick one thing to do every Saturday or set aside a whole weekend to tackle the items on your spring cleaning checklist.

Whatever is meaningful and works for you is what we recommend starting with. Just remember it’s about much more than a clean house!

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