Cropped shot of a young woman reading to her foster son at home

If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, it can seem a bit overwhelming. There are many unknowns in the process, and, usually, new parents are most worried about whether they’ll be able to meet the needs of the children placed in their home. Well, it may not be as complicated as you think. Here are five of the top needs a foster kid in the system experience:

Time for the Foster Kid

Foster kids are fundamentally normal kids, and like other children, they need attention. Being a kid isn’t always easy, and the challenges that attend being placed into custody make it that much more difficult. When a foster kid comes into your home, what they need the most is a sense of normalcy, and that includes consistent, loving attention.

Develop Healthy Habits for a Foster Kid

Foster kids may often come from living situations where they lacked the basic necessities of nutrition and hygiene. Indeed, healthy food and clean housing can make a world of difference in the life of a child.

Encouragement

If you ever want to fail at something, just tell yourself you can’t do it. But if you want to make a kid feel like they’re on top of the world, encourage them. Promote their strengths, strengthen their weaknesses, and celebrate all their victories.

Consistency

Nothing will disrupt the life of a child, or adult, like instability. Many things can make a child anxious and self-conscious. For example, not knowing where the next meal will come, when bedtime is, or if anyone will be home tonight. When you provide a foster child with set schedules, regular meals, and predictable behavior, you teach them they can relax and depend on you.

Love

Above all, these kids need love! If you have it in your heart to care for a foster child, you can provide a loving, stable home when they need it most. Contact us today to learn more about fostering.