Christmas Cards Ideas for Fostering Families

It’s that time of year where people start thinking about sending out Christmas cards with photos of the family.  If that’s part of your season’s greetings to friends and family, it’s hard to know how to include any foster children who are with you over the holidays.  Do you send a photo without them?  Put stickers over their faces?  Do you skip the Christmas card altogether?  The obvious answer is to find out what your agency’s policy is on photos and social media.  Some agencies allow photos, some allow photos with faces blurred, and others do not allow any photos whatsoever without parental consent.  If you fall in the semi-lax category where you can share photos as long as faces aren’t revealed, check out these creative ways to photograph the entire family without turning anyone into a smiley face emoji.  [click photos for source]

1. Fun Socks

Buy a pair of Christmas socks for the family and warm your feet by the fire for this holiday photo.

2. Matching Pajamas

Decorating the tree is a very natural way to get a shot without revealing faces.  Wearing matching pajamas is just a bonus.

3. Holiday Baking

I love holiday baking photos.  These examples can use a little more red and green to make them more festive, but the poses would work great for hiding faces.

4. Big Santa Hat

A too large Santa hat is an adorable way to conceal a child’s identity.

5. Baby Feet

These photos work well for younger kids or a single child.

6. Fake Snow

This one would take a little bit of work to perfect, but with the right amount of fake snow (or photoshop), you could involve foster children in the fun and have the snow blur faces.

7. Sitting in Front of the Tree

I’ve seen a variety of these photos, and they are all precious.

8. Drinking Santa’s Milk

9. Reading a Christmas Story

I love photos of kids reading.  Have your kids pick out their favorite Christmas books and snap a few pics while they read.

10. Just Hanging Out

This photo is cute and super simple.  All you need is a string of lights and you can take a few pics in your yard.

11. Catching Santa

If you have a fireplace, this photo idea is for you!

12. Kids with Santa

These poses with Santa are a great way to include foster children in a natural way.

 

If you have a fun Christmas photo that you’d like to share with Still Orphans, you can email us at stillorphans@gmail.com.  Whether you’re allowed to share photos or not, take lots of pictures and enjoy the holidays!

⇓ Check out these related posts ⇓

Christmas Gift Ideas for Bio Parents

What to do about Santa