Fostering children is a wonderful way to experience the joys of being a parent without actually giving birth. By helping kids who don’t have a family and have ended up in the care system through no fault of their own, you can give something back to the community and make a difference in a child’s life. If you haven’t yet made the leap into fostering, but one of your friends has, here are some ways you can help the kids in their care.
Donate Useful Supplies
Children often arrive at a foster care placement without anything. The foster parent will provide clothes and other essentials, but you can still help by making specific donations. Think about what the child will need. If they are old enough to attend school, they’ll need school supplies such as pencils, pens, and a calculator. Younger children need toys. Even less fun items like a rucksack or coat will be welcome to a child with nothing of their own. A small suitcase can be helpful too, so they have something they can use to carry items around if they are being moved to a new placement.
Prepare a welcome box once you know the age and gender of the child your friend is expecting. Fill it with fun and practical things, so they feel welcomed into their new home.
Get Involved
Foster kids need all the positive role models they can get. If your friend is fostering several children, all of different ages, offering some support could make a big difference. While you don’t need to do the heavy lifting, you can still be involved with the kids in various ways.
For example, if one of the kids is a football fan, you could volunteer to take him or her to the park for a kickaround or help them out with new football kit. Be an uncle or aunt to the kids; they’ll love having that extra bit of adult input.
Be Supportive
It isn’t always easy being a foster parent, just like parenting isn’t easy. Kids can be tricky and have bad days where nothing is right, and a tantrum is always around the corner. Your friend will probably appreciate some extra support, so be there on the end of the phone when they’re having a bad day, or pop over for a chat and a slice of cake so they can offload for a bit.
Be Flexible
You might not be able to see as much of your friend when they have foster kids to care for, so be flexible when plans are made and then changed at the last minute. Alternatively, instead of asking your friend to come for a night out, organise something that includes the kids, like a picnic at the park where you guys can catch up while the kids play.
You might decide in time that you’d like to become a foster carer too. If so, visit fcascotland.co.uk and see what steps you need to take.
By being a supportive friend while they are on their fostering journey, you can share it with them. It’s a win-win for everyone.
