Hi all! My name’s Greg – Foster carer, dad and appropriately enough general dogsbody (only joking!) You know we’ve been fostering for nearly ten years now and as all foster carers will tell you there have been both good and bad times. We have friends who also foster and have many interested – sometimes heated – debates about all the different choices you have as a foster care. We’re all different and so will be the approaches we take. And so are the things we find that work and those that don’t. We were recently part of an online safety workshop held over zoom. Really interesting and we like that all the foster carers got a lot from it. Our agency, Rainbow Fostering, is brilliant at keeping its carers informed about fostering – both the specific and important things we all need to know – as well as the more general information. So I had a pretty good idea about the topic of online safety and the hazards the internet can present to the unwary. Still, the workshop was brilliant and made us all aware of just how quickly things change. The good aspects as well as the bad. The number of apps and games seem never-ending. It was good to be reminded just how important it is to set privacy controls. Not only that but how to actually go about it as it’s not always the same depending on which app or game is being used. It’s reassuring to know that the workshops will be put on regularly as its tough keeping up with all the changes as the old grey matter ages. Still, there is; as they say, no turning the clock. The online world is here to stay and foster carers, just like all parents, know just how tempting are all its attractions to kids.
Foster a love of outdoor fun.
One of the biggest frustrations as well as triggers for arguments is the amount of time youngsters want to spend online. We all agreed that this can be particularly hard as Children can totally lose track of time when they’re on the internet. Tell them it’s time to stop or do something else can quickly lead to aggro. So I’m sharing what I have found really works for us as a foster family. Sounds simple: make the real world as interesting as the online one. One of the best ways of doing this, as any dog owner knows, is walking the dog with children. They might complain at first but pretty soon they’ll be as keen to go as Monty our cross-breed is. Dogs are natural comics and children respond to this. Is there anything funnier than pretending to throw a ball and watch your dog head off at top speed in the wrong direction? Watching your pooch trying to catch a frisbee in the air is quality entertainment. And children love it. The other major upside is that children are out in the fresh air exercising their whole bodies instead of twiddling their thumbs on a game console. Fresh air and exercise should lead naturally to a good diet and good sleep. Things all children need. And you know what, when you’re out walking the dog with your kids it’s the chance to talk. You’d be amazed at the kinds of things that come up in conversation. Sometimes they’re things that a foster carer really needs to be aware of: problems at school, hopes and goals. Just being on a walk with the distraction of ‘man’s best friend’ chasing a squirrel up a tree can help your young person get a problem off their chest.
It’s a fact that pet ownership has gone up during the lockdown. Deprived of their school chums, a lot of children have been able to deal with the isolation by having a furry friend on hand. As many dog-owning foster carers know looking after a dog teaches a youngster important lessons about responsibility. That means even if it’s raining, Monty still needs to have a walk to be healthy and happy. So wellington boots and coats become the order of the day. And there are few things more hilarious after showering the mud off your canine chum and watching them charge round in circles shaking themselves dry.
In our fostering family its definitely “Walkies and Talkies” at least once a day. And in the Summer, you can find your kids end up spending hours in the great outdoors with the pooch. You’ll welcome the way they lose track of time then in a way you won’t when their eyes are glued to a smartphone. On our car back window, we have the well-known sticker “A dog is for life not just for Christmas”. Nothing could be more true: soon you’ll realise it’s not just the dog’s life that’s been improved but everyone else’s.
Names changed to protect privacy – even Monty’s!
Rainbow: an independent agency making a difference?
Rainbow fostering has over twenty years of experience in foster care. We work in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Hampshire with local authorities to provide high-quality foster care for vulnerable children and young people. Rainbow has been rated ‘Outstanding in all areas’ by Ofsted. We are there for our foster carers 24/7, 365 days a year.
It’s a sad fact that the pandemic has put older people at risk and most of the county’s foster carers are in older age groups. This means the need to recruit new foster carers is more urgent than ever. Our professional team of fostering consultants are available now to answer any questions about fostering you have. And we can start you on your journey immediately by talking to us on the phone or we can arrange to meet you virtually via video chat. And of course, we have a wealth of information we can email to you.
With our professional expertise, support and guidance, you can be Approved to foster in as little as 16 – 18 weeks. To foster, you must have a spare room. Fostering is open to people who are (over 21) married, divorced, single or cohabiting. You can provide foster care whatever your sexual orientation, ethnicity or cultural background. There is no upper age limit to being a foster carer. Our children need warm, welcoming, nurturing and supportive foster homes – perhaps you could provide one!
We also welcome applications from experienced foster carers who might be interested in transferring. Fostering is not for everyone but for those it suits, their lives can be transformed in amazing and rewarding ways. Call 0330 311 2845 for a friendly chat without any obligation.
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Please make sure to check the latest advice and guidance to stay safe and well during lockdown – visit – remember if you can work from home the government guidance is that you should. https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/coronavirus
Contact Rainbow.
Please remember, all our contact details and regional office locations can be found via the link below. If you prefer, you can leave your contact details on our website and arrange for a member of our team to call you later at a time to suit you. We very much look forward to hearing from you!
Everyone remember Hands, Face, Space – protect the NHS. http://rainbowfostering.co.uk/contact/
Rainbow putting the focus on fostering.
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