Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.

How do you handle sleep struggles when raising a child who has been impacted by trauma, prenatal substance exposure, or other challenges? Listen to our conversation with Dr. Chris Winter, a sleep researcher and neurologist who has practiced sleep medicine and neurology since 2004. He is also the author of The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired or Irritable Child May Have A Sleep Disorder--And How To Help, and hosts the podcast Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Understanding the value of sleep and reframing the conversation about expectations and what your child needs to support overall health, development, and wellbeing.
• What makes adopted, foster, or kinship children particularly vulnerable to sleep challenges?
• How might a child’s early trauma and experiences of loss — such as separation from birth families or multiple moves — show up in their sleep patterns?
• What effects do frequent environmental changes have on a child’s sleep?
• How might prenatal exposure to substances (e.g., opioids, alcohol, others) impact a child’s sleep?
• What may be the challenges that children with neurodiversity (Down syndrome, ADHD, ASD etc) experience?
• What are the practical strategies you have found successful in helping families with sleep disturbances?
• Why is it important to teach our kids the value of rest—even without sleep?
• What should we consider when setting up a consistent routine and sleep-friendly setting for our kids?
• When is it time to seek professional evaluation—like a sleep study or specialist referral for our kids?
• What guidance do you offer caregivers to help them stay consistent, avoid burnout, and model healthy sleep habits?

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.

Question: How should I deal with an adoptive child with a people-pleasing personality? I want to prevent the anxiety that comes with that, but I'm not sure how.

Resources:

• 6 Tips for Creating Attachment
• How to Cultivate Resilience in Your Kids
• 7 Character Traits Your Kids Need to Thrive
• Signs Your Child Might Be People Pleasing and How to Help

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.

How do you manage daily expenses and budgeting when you are a foster or kinship caregiving family? We speak with Nicole Valenzuela, a foster parent and founder of Fostering Finances, to learn about simplified budgeting practices and healthy mindsets for managing money.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What are the financial challenges that foster and kinship families commonly face?
• How do those challenges differ between kinship caregivers and licensed foster parents?
  • Are there particular challenges for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC foster or kinship families?
  • What about single foster parents or kinship caregivers?
• What are the day-to-day costs that aren’t always covered by stipends or allowances?
• What hurdles might the informal caregivers face (those not participating in the foster care system while caring for a relative child) in accessing services or support?
• What financial supports may be available but underutilized by foster and kinship families?
• What are the Kinship Navigator Programs? How can they help — where are they found, etc.?
• What are some tax strategies or credits that families caring for foster or kin children may be eligible for?
• How can caregivers build a small financial buffer for the inevitable emergency that comes with raising kids?
• What advice do you give around savings or flexibility?
• Suggestions for simple budgeting or expense-tracking strategies that foster or kinship families might implement right away?
• What are some low-cost ways for foster parents or grandparents raising grandkids to meet these kids’ needs while preserving their dignity?
• What other effective community-level initiatives or organizations are you aware of that support these families?
• How can caregivers locate and tap into similar resources in their own communities?
• How do caregivers decide which financial strategies to focus on first?
• What practical steps can they take to set in motion a plan to stabilize their household finances over the next 6 months?
• What are some early small wins that build confidence—say, saving a few dollars a week, or successfully claiming a benefit?
• What is a scarcity mindset and what are signs that a caregiver might be struggling with scarcity mindset?
• What are the top three ‘practical financial strategies’ you’d want every foster or kinship caregiver to walk away with from today?
• Finally, what’s your best encouragement to caregivers who feel overwhelmed by financial pressures?

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building