Welcoming Your First Foster Child

How to prepare for your first foster child placement

Beginning your fostering journey can be a daunting experience. You’ve gone through all the checks and now you’re ready to face the next step on your fostering journey – welcoming a child into your home. Once you get the go-ahead from the foster care committee, things can start to seem a little more real, a little more immediate. You may find your mind racing with questions: What do you do? How do you behave? Where do you start? How do I prepare for my first foster placement?

Don’t worry – this is completely normal. Those nerves are good nerves – put them to use! At Orchard Fostering, we work with you through every step of your fostering journey – and that includes getting you through the preparation and helping you cope with the first placement jitters. Read on to find out more on welcoming your first foster child into your home.

If you’re interested in foster care, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.

Don’t panic

A human being’s first instinct in any new situation is to panic. We love the status quo and we hate to see it disrupted. When you are notified about your first placement, you may begin to feel a little bundle of worry growing somewhere in your abdomen – this is totally normal. Just remember – you’ve done all the training, you’ve been approved by the various committees and agencies, you’ve got this! You’re a foster carer and this is what you do.

Of course, this is all well and good – sometimes, the worry takes over. Our advice? Try to harness your panic and worry toward positive outcomes – make a list of things to do and use your nervous energy to get those things done. Develop a self-care routine and make sure to look after yourself, too.

Get busy preparing (and pay attention to their space)

You are welcoming a new person into your home – that requires some preparation. Make a list of all the things you need to do and start working through it. Your dedicated social worker will assist you with this, pointing you in the right direction and letting you know exactly what you need to make your child feel comfortable and at home from the off.

The most important thing to get right is your child’s bedroom. Having a room of your own is a very special thing – it’s your place, and your place alone. As such, it’s important to recognise this when you’re doing up your foster child’s bedroom. This is a place for them to feel safe, to feel protected – a place where they can be themselves.

With all that in mind, it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re decorating your foster child’s bedroom. Our advice is to start simple. Don’t get too elaborate with the decorations – just focus on making the room habitable before your child moves in. Choose a neutral colour scheme for the walls and mimic it across the furniture – this way, you child has the ability to put their own stamp on their space (with your help, of course). If you get the bedroom right, the rest will follow – their own personal space is most important.

Plan your first day

Entering a new environment can be daunting – especially for a child. New places mean new rules, new rituals, and new people. As such, it’s important to ensure that your foster child feels at ease from the beginning of their time with you. Making their first day in your home is a good one is a great foundation upon which to build a lasting, trusting relationship.

The best way to achieve this sense of security and safety is to plan your first day together – having a structure in place will avoid any confusing or conflicting moments. What does a typical first day in foster care look like?

Start off with their first moments – how will you greet them? Try not to overwhelm – greet them outside the house, and walk through the door together. Avoid any overwhelming physical greetings – while you may be a hugger, your child might be a little reticent right away. Instead, try a hand on the shoulder or elbow as you walk in.
Show them around – start your tour of the house with introductions. Let your child know who’s who – your partner, your kids, your pets. After they’ve got to know everyone, take a walk around the house and show them their new environment.
Let them get settled – depending on the age of your child, they may want to have some time alone to gather themselves. This is a great opportunity to let them explore their new room.
Connect over a homecooked meal – what better way to cap off a stressful and tiring day than a homecooked meal? Food is a great way to connect with others, and cooking a family favourite is a nice idea for your first day together.

More than anything, remember – you’ve got this. You are a foster carer and this is the job. You can do it – we believe in you!