Sadly to say that most foster children do not have the experience of a childhood or being a child. They have spent their lives caring for siblings and themselves. At times even caring for their bio parents that are unable to care for themselves due to drugs and alcohol. They have the responsibility that most adults have, providing food, cleaning the house, and finding a way to meet their needs along with their siblings needs.

It is not uncommon to see three or four- year olds come into foster care still trying to care for younger siblings. The role of caretaker is not something they know how to give up or want to give up easily. This is something that will take time and patience on your part. In a lot of situations the children have been the only consistent thing that they had in their short lives. You may even get older children that are not placed with theirs siblings for whatever reason they come in to your home and try to take on the mothering role to the younger children in the household. This is what the children have spent their lives doing instead of being a child making friends, playing outside, going to school, doing homework, etc..

We have to teach the children to become children and how to act as a child. It can be very hard for the children to make friends for a number of reasons. They need to know what a friend is before they can become a friend. Sharing for these children can be a big issue. This is something you may have to work with them on. In taking on a parental role the children are more bossy and pushy with other children.

Continued........


“The greatest inspiration is often born of desperation.”
Comer Cotrell