Although foster care may be difficult, it’s also very rewarding. You know that you’re giving a child a home and raising them to be responsible, independent adults. You’re making sure that they get an education, develop friendships and explore their full potential. Raising foster children definitely has its challenges but most foster parents will tell you that, in the end, it’s all been worth it. If you’re just starting out as a foster parent, here are some tips that other foster parents, who have already been through the process, will give you:
Raising a child definitely has its challenges but most foster parents will tell you that, in the end, it’s all been worth it. If you’re just starting out as a foster parent, here are some tips that other foster parents, who have already been through the process, will give you:
Be Alert
Being a foster parent is a full-time job and you can’t ever let your guard down. Yes, your foster child will be at school for part of the day but for the rest of the day, you need to know where they are at all times and whether they’re being watched by a responsible adult. You also need to keep an eye on what’s going on in school. Unless you ask your foster child about this, they will probably not share it with you.
Maintain a Balance
There are foster parents who know everything about what their child is doing and there are foster parents who try to give the child their own space. As a child grows older, they need some space. This is a normal part of growing up. So it’s up to you, as a foster parent, to create the right balance of caring for and giving space to your child.
Stay Involved
It’s impossible to be a foster parent unless you get involved in a number of things the child is doing. You’re going to have to help them with their homework which means that you will have to brush up on your history and geography. You’ll need to throw them birthday parties which means keeping track of their friends and being friends with their friends’ mothers. There will be parent-teacher conferences to attend, projects to finish and play dates to set up. All of which means that you’ll have to be involved in every aspect of your child’s life.
Contact us to learn more about raising foster children.
