Feature
Welcome Home
“Before living at Boys and Girls Country, I never knew what I
was going to come home to.” – Boys and Girls Country Kid.
Time and time again, kids tell us their life before Boys and
Girls Country was a different kind of normal. Our children
come from many different backgrounds and have experienced the unpredictable home life that comes with poverty
and family disruption. When kids come to live at Boys and
Girls Country, the adjustment to cottage life can be daunting
as they learn about our structure, routines, and the Teaching
Family Model.
Routine and structure are critical to any busy family’s
success, and it’s no different at Boys and Girls Country.
“We couldn’t parent 88 kids without a detailed schedule!”
exclaims Teaching Parent Daniel Lockey. “Routine provides
kids with a sense of security. Routine provides stability for kids. If an environment is stable and a child knows the outcomes of their actions, it gives them the power of choice or control.
In turn, it gives them security and a sense of safety.” When children
live in an unpredictable environment, their attention is taken up with
“what happens next?” Their sleep is poor, grades fail, and oftentimes
they experience hunger and other distractions.
Boys and Girls Country staff work around the clock to give our children “a place to grow up and a sense of being home.” This process
happens in moments both big and small, until children can trust that
they are safe and loved. So how do we help kids adjust to their new
home? How do we help them understand and accept the new normal?
Daniel starts with comfort
food. “When they first
arrive, I’ll ask what their
favorite meal is and what
they are used to eating and try to plan a similar menu. For that first morning,
I always cook bacon!”
Teaching Parents Jim and Madela Stuckey make a big impression on new kids
as well. “We make a sign with their name welcoming them to our cottage,”
says Jim. “We bake a big batch of cookies and try to have a barbecue or a
favorite food for them.”
It helps to have the whole family involved in welcoming a new child to the
cottage. Boys and Girls Country students love to meet new people,
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Boys and Girls Country News | Fall 2015