Decisions, decisions, decisions. When a child comes from a traumatic past, they consistently need decisions made for them. Even months and years after their adoption or placement in foster care, a hurting child will need others to help guide them more than a typical child would. But sometimes too much control is taken away from them, and they feel like they can’t make any decisions in their life.
The child who has attachment issues isn’t capable of making difficult choices, yet, they need to be given the chance to make choices occasionally so they don’t feel so out of control. Plus, when a child makes choices, they naturally learn about consequences, either positive or negative.
If you have a child who has recently joined your family, it’s good to give them choices in small increments, and as they do, you will be able to identify when they’re ready to have more responsibility.
I came across this great video on the Autism Site. Below, Rob from Autism Spectrum Therapies, talks about ways in which you can give a child more choices. The video is less than four minutes long, and gives some excellent tips on allowing your child to make decisions in their everyday life. Although Rob is talking about Autism, it relates just as much to your adopted or foster child.
You can receive each post made to Lovin’ Adoptin’ by subscribing in the upper right corner. If you’re on a mobile device, you can do this on the web version. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more helpful information and links.
lovin' adoptin' & autism 
We have been doing that more with the kids. Would you like to have a bath first or clean your teeth first? Shows them that they need to do both, but they get to choose which. Would you like your sandwich cut in triangles or squares? Small choice, but it gives them some control in their lives which has often been filled with adults making so many big choices for them. Who they can live with, who they can and can’t see, where they can and can’t go. It might seem trivial to us, but we’ve found that the kids respond better when they feel like they have some choices and say in their lives.
The “amount of time” and “order of activities” choices were great ideas, thanks for sharing this video!
Yeah, I loved it because the child “thinks” they’re making a choice, in reality you’re making it within your guidelines.