Becoming a foster carer and welcoming a child into your home is an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges, particularly when a child first moves in. Foster children often enter care with complex emotional and psychological needs after facing adversity, disruption, or trauma in their young lives. As foster carers, it is critical that we are equipped to compassionately support these vulnerable children, help them feel safe and loved, and set them up to heal and thrive in their new home environment. This article provides guidance and tips for carers on making your foster child feel welcome and supported during the initial transition period and beyond.
Understanding the Child’s Background
Before a child moves in, connect with the supervising foster agency like fosterplus.co.uk to understand as much as possible about the child’s history and experiences prior to entering care. This background will offer invaluable context about potential triggers or challenging behaviours the child may demonstrate. It will also help you have realistic expectations and allow you to better empathise with the child.
The Importance of Structure and Consistency
Foster children crave and rely on structure, routine, and consistency to feel safe, build trust and begin settling into their new home. Outline clear rules and expectations from day one, stick to regular schedules for things like meals, school, playtime, and bedtimes, and aim to have consistent responses to actions that aren’t acceptable. Consistency demonstrates you can be relied upon and are there to unconditionally care for them. Check-in if things feel chaotic and provide extra support in times of disruption.
Actively Listen to Your Foster Child
Make regular time for open communication with your foster child from the start. Provide reassurance that you are there to listen without judgement and that they can trust you. But don’t force them to open up before they are ready. Patience and allowing them to know you care unconditionally is key. If they do open up, listen attentively, empathise, and avoid overreacting. Seek to understand rather than fix them. Therapeutic tools like feelings charts, journals or creative outlets can also help facilitate communication.
The Comfort of Family Traditions
Involve your foster child in family traditions, routines, and activities as soon as possible. Bake cookies together on Sunday afternoons, have a games night after dinner, go on regular walks with the dog – integrate them into the fabric of family life. The sense of belonging this provides is invaluable. But be mindful not to overload them too soon. Gauge their comfort level, take things slowly, and don’t take it personally if they need time before joining in family rituals.
Helping Them Feel at Home
Make your foster child’s bedroom feel like their own special sanctuary. Use their preferred name, pronouns, and terms of endearment. Learn their likes, dislikes, interests, and passions. Surprise them by incorporating their preferences into family life where possible – their favourite meals, movies, or weekend activities. These little gestures signal unconditional acceptance.
Welcoming a foster child into your home is incredibly meaningful but it comes with complexities. As carers, we must enter with open arms and open minds, and above all, radiate patience, empathy, and compassion.
