We think of you all year round but this month is time to tell you all out loud!
To all of you who are the children of foster carers and sharing your home and parents, thank you 😊
Thank you for accepting new children into your home. We know that sometimes it is not easy, but thank you for making time to:
- play with them
- talk with them
- get to know them
- make them laugh
- listen to them
- help them
- and share your parent’s time with them
Without this, your parents would not be able to support the children that come to stay with you – often through a difficult and confusing time in their lives. This is something that you should be truly proud of, as we are very, very proud of you 😊
We want to make sure you know that you can talk to your family’s supervising social worker at any time if you have any questions or concerns. They are there for you just as much as for your mum or dad, and they love to hear from you to find out what you have been doing!😊
But what do YOU think about being a foster sibling? Here are some of the things you have said recently when we asked for your thoughts:
“The best thing about fostering is that the boys are like a puzzle piece that has completed the family
and I enjoy doing activities with them that I wouldn’t be able to do with my older siblings and
after 4 years of being here they are my forever family”
M aged 15 years
“The children were all spoken to together and they all agreed that they enjoy having the looked after child live with them. They really like all the trips that we provide such as going to a theme park.
They cannot think of any other help, support or advice that they need.
They want their parents to continue to foster and they are all happy to help any way they can.”
M aged 21 years, A aged 18 years, and U aged 16 years
“It’s been a great experience all round with lots of memorable fun times together”
R aged 23 years
Both feel that some of the best things about fostering are “meeting new people” and “playing/dancing with.. (the baby).” M likes to help with “anything but pooey nappies.” Some of the worst things about fostering are “having people leave” and “watching children’s shows like Hey Dougie.”
K aged 14 years, and M aged 18 years
Also, as of last year, The Fostering Network started to consider a new name for Sons and Daughters Month – one that is gender inclusive and addresses every young person who grows up fostering. They say “The consultation process is well underway and we have heard many different voices already, both from our members and young people. We noticed, however, that further consultation is necessary to ensure we find terminology that resonates with our members and children of foster carers, and that people with care experience and members of the LGBTQ+ community are all happy with it. We know how important inclusive language is and it is our utmost priority to get it right. If you have any feedback on a new name please share your ideas by emailing [email protected].”
By Lynsey Dobbs, Senior Recruitment Officer, UK Fostering
Sources
https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/championing-fostering/sons-and-daughters-month#competition Fostering Network
Further Resources
https://ukfostering.org.uk/family-foster-whats-like/ My family Foster – What’s It Like? – article by a young person whose family foster
https://ukfostering.org.uk/sons-daughters-month/ Sons & Daughters 2021 – with comments from young people whose parents foster
https://ukfostering.org.uk/my-parents-want-to-foster/ My Parents Want to Foster! – are you a young person whose parents are considering becoming foster carers? Have a read of this 😊
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-6WkqTDUCU&t=52s Outstanding Contribution by Sons and Daughters Award Winner 2018 – Short video