How do I prepare my birth children to welcome a foster child?

Welcoming a new addition to the family can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time. As a foster parent, you’ll want to make sure everything is in place for your foster child, but this can also be time-consuming.

If you have children in the home already, you may find that you need to prepare your birth children for the new arrival. They may not fully understand what is happening so it’s up to you to ensure your family is fully prepared and ready to welcome a new child into your home.

Explain the process

Although you may have a grasp of the fostering process and what it entails, your birth children may not. Make sure to sit them down and explain clearly and simply what is about to happen.

It’s important that any children already living at home feel heard and seen. Make it clear to them that you require their cooperation to make your new family member feel welcome and as comfortable as possible.

It can be helpful to involve children in the preparation process so that they feel included. If you’re setting up a room for your foster child, involve your birth children in buying items and setting up.

Set the same boundaries and rules for all

It’s important that all children in your home are treated equally. Although your foster child may have unique needs that need to be catered for, boundaries and rules should apply to all family members.

It can help to make the rules of the house clear with a poster in a shared area of the house where all family members can view it. Ensure that your birth children are familiar with any rules and boundaries you set before your new foster arrives. This will make the transition a lot easier and help to avoid conflicts or disagreements.

If you are new to fostering and feel like you need to create new rules for the home in preparation for the new arrival, do so well in advance. Again, make sure your birth children have become comfortable with the rules and routines before welcoming your new foster.

If you feel ready to welcome a child into your home and take on the role of a foster carer, then get in touch below. You can explore all of our training opportunities and explore fostering in your desired area .