Common Fostering Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Fostering is a rewarding experience, offering a chance to make a profound difference in a child's life. However, it also presents numerous challenges that foster carers need to be aware of. Understanding these foster challenges is crucial so both foster children and family can thrive.  

At Excel Foster Care, we’re here to help and support you to overcome any challenges you might face on your fostering journey. Keep reading to find out the common challenges that foster families face and practical advice on how to overcome them, let’s start. 

The Emotional Challenges of Fostering 

It’s not uncommon for children who have experienced trauma in their lives to display some challenging behaviours when settling into a new home. Some of these behaviours can include, but are not limited to; 

• Attachment Issues: Foster children may struggle to form secure attachments due to their past experiences. This can be difficult for foster carers who want to build a trusting relationship. 

• Emotional Outbursts: Children in foster care may have difficulty regulating their emotions, leading to frequent outbursts that can be challenging to manage. 

• Low Mood: Many foster children experience periods of low mood or depression, often related to their trauma or feelings of loss. This can be difficult for foster carers to address, particularly if the child is reluctant to talk about their feelings. 

How to Overcome Emotional Challenges 

• Seek Support: It's essential to seek support from fellow foster carers, support groups, or one of our in-house therapists who understands the unique challenges of being a foster parent. That’s why we have developed a in-house therapy care to provide foster children with mental health services when needed. 

• Create a Safe Environment: Establish a safe and consistent environment where the child feels secure. Routine and predictability can help in reducing anxiety and emotional instability. 

Managing Behavioural Issues 

Behavioural issues are another common challenge that foster carers encounter. Managing these behaviours can be one of the most daunting aspects of fostering. 

Let’s break it down: 

Interacting with Birth Parents 

The end goal of the majority of foster placements is reunification. So, it’s important to remember that all foster children will have contact with their birth parents if it is safe to do so.  

It’s crucial to manage the existing family dynamics while ensuring that the foster child feels welcomed and secure. This process can be particularly challenging if there are other children in the household.  

Here are some main challenges:  

• Jealousy among biological children: Introducing a new child into the family can sometimes lead to feelings of jealousy or resentment among biological children, who may feel they are receiving less attention. 

• Adjusting to new routines: Both the foster child and the existing family members will need time to adjust to new routines and expectations. 

It’s important to maintain positivity when talking about your foster child’s birth family and work with them to strengthen the bond between the child or young person and their family as they work towards reunification. 

When you have developed a relationship with your foster child it can be difficult to say goodbye. However, our team is always here to support you. 

How to Overcome Integration Challenges 

• Open Communication: Keep communication open within the family. Discuss the changes that fostering will bring and encourage all family members to express their feelings. 

• Family Activities: Engage in activities that involve the entire family to build bonds and help the foster child feel included. This can be anything from family game nights to outings that everyone enjoys. 

Educational Challenges 

Foster children often face educational challenges, these challenges can be frustrating for both the child and the foster carer. 

Here are two common challenges:  

• Learning Gaps: Due to frequent moves or disruptions, foster children may have missed significant portions of their education. 

• Social Integration: Fitting in with peers at a new school can be challenging, especially if the child is dealing with emotional or behavioural issues. 

How to Overcome Educational Challenges 

• Advocate for the Child: Work closely with teachers and school staff to ensure that the child receives the support they need. This may involve creating an individualised education plan (IEP) or seeking extra tutoring. 

• Encourage Extracurricular Activities: Encourage the child to participate in extracurricular activities, which can help them make friends and build confidence. 

Need Help or Advice? Contact Excel Fostering  

Remember, while the challenges of being a foster parent are real, the impact you can have on a child's life is immeasurable. With patience, support, and a commitment to learning and growing, you can overcome these challenges and help foster children thrive. 

At Excel Fostering, you never have to face fostering challenges alone, we offer regular training including how to look after children with challenging behaviours, regular contact with a dedicated social worker and a support network of foster carers that you can talk to for help and advice. If you’re ready to start your foster care journey, learn more about the benefits of fostering with Excel or  talk to a member of our helpful team today. 

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