This month we celebrate the fantastic contribution that children of foster carers make in the home! These amazing young people share their parents, their homes, time, and extend the hand of friendship to children that cannot live with their own families.
Children in foster care can stay with a foster family sometimes for only a few days, but more often for several weeks, months or years. Sometimes foster children arrive late in the evening or at the weekend in an emergency situation, leaving little time to prepare for their arrival, so everyone in the household may get involved in getting the room ready, refreshments prepared etc.
Often there is a period of adjustment that is needed whilst a foster child settles in and feels safe and secure. The children of foster carers have a big role in supporting with this to make a child feel welcome and accepted in the home.
The children of our foster carers have said us that they enjoy the foster family events that UK Fostering hold throughout the year (this year so far we have had picnics, theme park trips, wildlife park outings and a barbecue, with Halloween events to come!) but also have the opportunity to meet with other children of foster carers. So watch out for new events with bowling, crazy golf, and other activities coming up locally soon!
But what do foster carer’s children have to say about how they feel about being in a fostering family. Here are some thoughts that they have shared:
If you think you and your children could make a difference to a child/ren in care, please get in touch and we can explore with you. For those of you already caring for UK Fostering please do thank your children on our behalf. Together we change lives.
Sources
https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/championing-fostering/sons-and-daughters-month Sons & Daughters Month
Read More
https://ukfostering.org.uk/family-foster-whats-like/ – Blog by a child of a foster carer