Children of Foster Carers Month - How a young person adapted to becoming a fostering family

Children of Foster Carers Month

We want to shine a light on Children of Foster Carers Month and have recently had a fantastic insight from a young child growing up in a fostering household since the age of three. Here, she shares some of her memories of fostering and how she has supported and adapted to being a fostering family.

How it began

At the very young age of three, when her parents decided to become foster carers, T recalls feeling nervous and shy about having many visitors to her house as this would be a significant change for the family and a new way of living. Changes in the household would have to be made to ensure everyone was safe as they welcomed a baby into the home, so the stair gates returned, and T shared that her mum showed her how she could get involved and help with the baby through things such as grabbing the nappies when it was needed.

Although T was originally the youngest, as she has an older brother living at home, T recalls remembering she was no longer the youngest in the household. At first, it felt strange, but she settled nicely into being the middle child now and took this in her stride.

Making memories

Creating memories for the whole family is important, and T enjoys spending time together and going on days out. The young child the family cares for has additional medical needs, so on days out, T shared that they get to go on the rides first, which is fun. Bonding through play and spending 1-1 time with her is something T enjoys when she returns from school and helps by teaching her new things.

Fostering can be a big adjustment for the whole family and this family is no different with T admitting when the young child they are caring for cries, she sometimes T needs to take herself away from the area to have a break. Due to the young child's medical needs, this means her mum is sometimes away at the hospital so isn't around which T shared she misses her mum when she is gone. Recalling the memories of COVID-19, this was an exceptionally challenging time as the family couldn't visit or see her as often.

Advice for children 

Some excellent advice T shares with us when growing up in a fostering household is to offer your help and support to your parents and be a good role model to the children living in the home. You should remember you will have many visitors coming into your home, and the child living with you might need extra care until they settle.

At Nexus Fostering, we have continuous support for children of foster carers and specific support groups and events throughout the year for them. Ensuring they always feel a part of our fostering community, are heard, and have their opinions listened to. Being an Ofsted outstanding fostering agency means we can provide vital fostering support to anyone in the family.

Next, you can read another fantastic fostering story from Phoebe, as we continue celebrating Children of Foster Carers Month. Phoebe has been living in a fostering household since she was a teenager - My experiences of being a birth child in a fostering household | Nexus Fostering