Meet Aidan, a curious and playful 10-year-old with an infectious giggle! He loves to watch videos on his tablet, play with his bubble machine, and snuggle under his fuzzy blanket.
An ideal day for Aidan would be a day where he wakes up well-rested, eats a good breakfast, and goes to school (he loves his teacher!). At lunch, he would eat pizza rolls, cucumber slices, and juice.
After school, Aidan would have a snack and spend time watching videos. “He LOVES watching Elmo shows on his tablet,” says Lyla, his Child Specific Recruiter. “He always likes to have something playing in the background, and even enjoys listening to shows in Spanish! This is a major comfort item for Aidan, and he always enjoys having his tablet with him.”
For dinner, Aidan would eat his favorite food: tacos. After dinner, he likes to take a bath—with plenty of time to play in the water—before getting into pajamas, enjoying a brief story, and then snuggling under his comforter!
When thinking about an ideal family for Aidan, Lyla says, “Aidan would thrive in a two-parent household, or with a single parent who would be open to him living in a different setting (group home). Aidan may do well with older siblings, but younger children in the home may not be best. Homes with pets may be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
The three most important things Aidan needs are a consistent routine, a space of his own (he needs to be able to be away from distractions, loud noises and a lot of people and movement, so his own bedroom is a must), and parents who are willing to accept him where he is at developmentally.
Aidan is nonverbal. Although he can say a few words, he’s more communicative showing you what he wants. Once you get to know him better, you can intuit his different facial expressions and gestures.
“Aidan has made huge strides in the past couple of years,” says Lyla. “However, he has some delays that cause him to need lots of support in his daily life. It is important for Aidan to have a parent who is able to give him one-on-one attention when he is needing assistance.”
Due to Aidan’s needs, he may never be able to live independently, so it is important that families be open to supporting him throughout his life. “People just really like his personality,” says his county worker, Karen. “He’s very funny, interactive, and determined about what he wants to do!”
Details to Note
Due to contracts with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the cost of adopting a child from Minnesota foster care is virtually free to families.
Learn More About Aidan
If you would like to know more about Aidan, please contact Lyla Ronchak at [email protected].
Watch Aiden’s Reel Hope Video
