Foster Parenting | Tips on How to Become A Foster Parent to An Older Child

Foster Parenting | Learning how to become a foster parent to an older child is a challenging experience that requires a lot of discipline and patience. As children get older they develop their own personalities and express a variety of emotions. Even a seemingly well-adjusted child can become moody or develop negative attitudes as they approach their teenage years. Here are some tips on how to be successful when you become a foster parent to an older child.

Learn Their Likes

Pre-teen and Teenage children can come off as somewhat self-absorbed. They are still growing and have not had the life experience yet to fully understand how to express their emotions. To help guide them through these years it can be beneficial to show a true interest in what they like. You can effectively bond with them and build a trust through this shared interest.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

As previously stated, an older child’s attitude may not be ideal. It is best that you, as their foster parent, try to keep a positive outlook on life. Positivity rubs off and can help show your foster child that positive thinking leads to good things. A positive attitude can also help keep your foster child’s mind off negative things that have happened in their past.

Be Honest

As children grow up they instinctively become less trusting than when they were small children. Children in foster homes have often been let down or even lied to by adults in their past. To help build and maintain trust between you and your foster child you should always be honest. Honesty can be difficult at times, but it truly is the best policy.

Foster parenting an older child can be much different than fostering a younger child. At the same time, it can be just as rewarding if not more so, and you will be helping to serve teens who represent the greatest age-based placement needs currently in foster care. To learn how to become a foster parent you can contact Children First Foster Family Agency.