What to Expect when Fostering Teenagers

Often when we think of foster care, we only think about young children and babies. However, there are also a number of older children and teenagers who need the care and support of a foster home. Sadly, many people who want to foster fear that older children and young adults will be a greater commitment or more challenging to care for.

Fostering a teenager can be an extremely rewarding experience. Here are three things you may not have considered about fostering teens or young persons.

Teenagers in care may have had an unstable start in childhood and giving them a caring family and stable home can make a huge difference to the adults they become.

Celebrating the Key Milestones

As most of us will remember, being a teenager can be tough. You are learning to navigate the world in a new way, make new choices and gain the skills to see you through adulthood. To be able to support a child through this journey and help them thrive in their work life, education and private life, can be highly rewarding for both the teenager and the foster parent. Without the guidance of a caring family, it can be very easy for teenagers to feel unsupported so as a foster carer, you will play a crucial part in their life and the type of person they become. As a carer, you will be supporting them and enjoying the triumphs of major milestones in their lives which they will never forget.

Communication

Unlike young children who are still developing their language and communication skills, teenagers have a better grasp of language and can tell you how they feel. They can express their emotions, experiences and worries, which can make it easier to be able to help and support them. If you can show care and empathy to teenagers, they will be more likely to open up about how they feel.

Watch them develop

Teenagers in care may have had an unstable start in childhood and giving them a caring family and stable home can make a huge difference to the adults they become. By providing a routine, a stable support system, encouragement and goals, you can make a huge difference in their lives. Something as seemingly simple as getting a good night’s sleep, free from stress and worry, can really improve their quality of life.

Things to consider

Of course, deciding to foster is now a simple decision. You need to consider your own circumstances and personality traits to determine whether it is the right course for you. Often, fostering a teenager means you can be more flexible with your lifestyle as they become more independent. For example, many of our foster carers with teenage foster children choose to continue with their careers as school runs become less demanding. You may also be able to enjoy more shared activities with a teenager than you may with a younger child such as watching the same films or taking part in outdoor pursuits.

There is nothing more rewarding than watching someone you care about succeeding, even more so when you know you played a part in it.

If you are thinking of becoming a carer to teenagers or you’d just like to make an enquiry, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.