5 Tips for Fostering Teenagers

Posted on 15th September 2016 by Kelly From Red Cow Media

It’s important to understand the trials and tribulations that you may face when fostering a teen. Dealing with teenagers is hard enough at the best of times, even when you are dealing with your own children. However, when you are dealing with a foster child, there a few more things you need to consider when it comes to their behaviour and developing your relationship.

There’s no right or wrong way to address situations with your child, as every child and every family is different!

However, here are some tips we have to try and steer you in the right direction.

Give your foster child some leeway

Giving teenagers a chance to establish their own identity by giving them more independence is essential to helping them. Don’t try to constantly keep them on a tight leash, or you may find the pull away harder.

Choose your battles

Choose the battles with your foster child wisely. When you start to nit-pick and tell them off fir everything, they will listen less.  Keep getting onto them constantly is counterproductive, no matter how hard it is to bite your tongue!

Get to know their friends

Invite your foster children’s friends over for dinner. It will let you meet their friends and also lets your foster child see that you are interested in their lives.

Keep the door open

Instead of interrogating your foster child, simply try to act interested. Share things about your day before asking them about theirs. Let them know they can talk to you about things by sharing with them.

Be a role model

Your actions, even more than your words, are critical in helping your foster child adopt good moral and ethical standards. Try to be someone your foster child will want to look up to! By demonstrating this, they will be less likely to make bad decisions in their teen years.

This most important thing is to get to know your foster child as best you can. By being open and honest with them, they will learn to trust you and respect you.  Try to put yourself in their shoes, and remember that being a teen is tough!