- Routine
- How well can they dress/undress themselves?
- What boundaries have been set e.g. reward systems / time out / naughty step?
- What is their daily routine including times?
- How do they react to a change in routine?
- How changes to routines are best managed (if any of them finds this difficult)?
- How many times and for how long have they been with respite carers' while they’ve been with you?
- Food
- Any feeding/swallowing issues?
- Are they good or fussy eaters?
- Does it take a long time for them to eat a meal?
- Do they have any allergies - food?
- How often do they eat?
- What are their food likes and dislikes?
- What do they usually drink?
- Are there any foods or drinks that should be avoided?
- Bath time
- What time is bath time for them?
- How often do they have a bath?
- Do they like being in the bath or is it a stressful time for them?
- Do they like brushing their teeth?
- Do they need help with this?
- Do they like having their hair brushed, washed, dried?
- How do you wash their hair?
- What shampoo and bubble bath do they have?
- Sleep
- Do any of them share a room? (If siblings)
- Does he/she use a dummy either just at night or during the day too?
- Do they have any other comforters either just at night or during the day too?
- Does he/she nap, if so when and where?
- Do they need a nightlight on?
- Do they sleep soundly or does the slightest thing wake them?
- How do you soothe them back to sleep during the night if they wake up?
- How do you deal with nightmares / monsters under the bed?
- Is their cot/bed cot in a particular place (near or away from window)?
- Do you have anything in the cot, toys, mobile, etc.?
- Is there any music used to help any of them sleep?
- What and how many blankets / sleeping bag, etc. used in cot / bed?
- What is their sleep routine (time, stories, bath etc.?)
- Will he/she sleep in the buggy or the car or do they have to go to bed to sleep?
- Toilet training
- Are they now toilet trained?
- Do they need help with toilet, and washing hands etc.?
- How did toilet training go?
- What pull-ups / skin creams do you use?
- How is he/she doing in terms of toilet training?
- Behaviour
- Do they have any (rational or irrational) fears, e.g. flies, spiders, loud noises, water, smells, places, activities, beards, people with glasses, anything unusual?
- Do they have any tantrums and what triggers them? How long do they last?
- Do they react to the pain/distress of others?
- How can you tell when they are angry or scared?
- How can you tell when they are hungry or tired?
- How do they cope with pain, do they have an overly high or low pain threshold?
- How do they show affection?
- Are they cuddly or do they push you away?
- How easily are they calmed?
- How would you describe their behaviour and personality? (Calm, placid, etc.)
- How has direct contact with the birth family affected them?
- Is there anything that especially delights them, gets them excited?
- What do you do to comfort them, e.g. cuddle / stroke / hold them in a particular way?
- What is their general outlook on life?
- What do they understand about their safety, e.g. not playing with matches, knowing how to dial 999
- Describe the worse day ever whilst caring for this child...then the best day ever...
- Products
- What air freshener do you use?
- What soap powder/conditioner/tumble dryer additives do you use?
- Which baby products/toiletries do you use?
- Social
- Are they used to playing with/having other children around?
- Do they enjoy the company of adults or children more?
- Do they get upset or anxious by strangers?
- Do they have stranger fear?
- Do they like their/others birthday and Christmas and parties?
- Do they play well with friends; are they leaders or followers?
- Do you take them to any clubs/groups?
- Which adults are they closest to?
- Animals
- Are there any animals they are frightened of?
- Are they used to any pets or animals?
- Did the birth family have pets?
- Do they like cats / dogs / birds / farm animals?
- Do you have pets?
- How do they behave around pets or other people's animals?
- Activities
- Can and do they swim?
- Do they like dancing and singing?
- Do they like playing in the garden, even on dull days?
- Do they like sports and outdoor activities?
- Do they like travelling in the car and are they good passengers?
- Do they like walking?
- Do they ride a bike yet? Do they have bikes?
- Do they suffer from travel sickness?
- Have they been long distances in a car?
- How would they cope with going abroad on holiday?
- Have you taken them on holiday in this country?
- Is there any particular equipment you take with you when going out with them?
- Seating arrangements, e.g. at table, in cars, at restaurants
- What are their favourite indoor / outdoor games?
- What are their favourite songs?
- What are their hobbies and interests?
- What child seats are in the car?
- What kind of pram / buggy / pushchair is he/she used to?
- Where do they most like to go? (Farm, park, swimming etc.)?
- Which make of car seat do you use?
- Do they have any toys mirrors etc. on it?
- Clothing
- Are there any clothes he/she likes/dislikes wearing?
- Do they have a good range of seasonal clothing to bring with them?
- What are their clothing sizes?
- What is their shoe size?
- Toys, books, etc....Do they have a favourite toy/book?
- Do they have any music/TV /film favourites?
- Is there a particular theme to the toys/books/TV they like the most?
- Possessions
- Is there anything that they really like that they won’t be bringing with them?
- What clothing / toys / bedding / books / CDs / DVDs / photos / documents / other possessions will they be bringing with them?
- Who gave them which possessions, e.g. birth family, other FC, etc.?
- Which are significant or most precious and why?
- General
- Are there any photos we could take with us?
- Do they have any nicknames?
- Where are all their legal papers / health records / personal papers / school or nursery reports / old birthday cards / old photos etc.?
- What do they call you and your husband (they may have problems with understanding what a mummy is if they’ve had a lot of them!)
- The Future
- Do you think that there will be a lot of problems when they move on?
- What and who do you think they will miss when they move on?
- What are your views about how to help them best deal with the transition to their forever family?
- Do they understand about adoption?
- Do they understand about their past and future? If so, how much have they been told?
- Do they understand what has happened to birth mother and father?
- Is there anything that you would like to know about us / need from us?
Remember is it essential to ask 'How' questions' as well as a list of 'what’s’, such as 'How long can they send playing with something?', 'How well can they work independently?' You may find that your questions act as triggers for other things to be discussed.
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