Foster carers should familiarise themselves with “The Good Childhood Report’ which has just been produced by The Children’s Society. Disturbingly, it points to a marked decline in the happiness of this country’s children. A range of different factors has been found to be contributing to a situation that should be of concern to everyone. Events of recent years, notably the coronavirus pandemic have had a major impact. Social pressures – exacerbated by Social Media – continue to impact children’s happiness. There has to be a recognition that the very nature of childhood has changed out of all recognition in a few brief years. And that change is accelerating.
The medium for change has been our schools. And the time children spend in school has been increasing. A brief history: during the nineteenth century a series of reforms saw the expansion of provision. State-funded schools were widely introduced and by the 1880s it had become compulsory for children aged five to ten to attend school. Over time the leaving age was raised until in 2015 it was moved to eighteen. Parents and foster carers know that schools are crucial settings that exert a huge influence over their children’s well-being. Never has this been more true. And why? Because for years the day-to-day experience of school life for children was relatively unchanging – as far as they perceived it. And whilst the same could not be said of the education system itself, for it has long been subject to change – the result of competing theories and ideologies – past generations were not; upended by them. Tinkering with the system has seemingly become one of nature’s fundamental laws destined inevitably to continue. But the experiences of today’s young people have, in addition, been impacted by two seismic events: firstly, a global pandemic whose effects are now hopefully diminishing, and, secondly, the remorseless advance of ‘Tech’ creating a dizzying increase in the number of social media platforms.
Foster carers and parents are looking after young people whose experience of childhood is fundamentally different from their own. It’s said that each generation inhabits a different world from the previous one: unarguably true. But what is new in human history is the unprecedented degree of difference and rapid change characterising this new world. And its most sinister aspect is unquestionably the untamed Wild West frontier of social media. It has its apologists, but what cannot be argued, is its effects of reducing humans to mere data. We are seeing a new gold rush as platforms fall over themselves to monetise whatever can be monetised. Think this isn’t happening? Following an investigation, it has been reported by the BBC recently that desperate families in Syrian camps have been using TikTok to beg for donations. A force for good? Not when it emerged the platform takes up to seventy per cent of the funds raised. This kind of exploitative and nihilistic cynicism is practised by a platform millions of young people engage with.
Foster an understanding of the risks.
As parents and foster carers will be aware there the risks social media poses to the young are legion. We are where we are and technology cannot be disinvented. In today’s world, it transcends borders so notions of control and regulation are just that: notions. What should be the response? A good place to start would be to foster agreement that focusing attention on the well-being of children must be paramount. This blog series will concentrate on broadening this theme. And starting with examining what well-being might actually mean. In many ways, it is a hopelessly vague term because it is so subjective. For clarity and inspiration, the series will draw on much that is contained in “The Good Childhood Report 2022’ produced by The Children’s Society.
Foster carers, parents, fostering service providers, educators, social workers, and politicians – the list is long – need more than ever to have a focused definition of wellbeing. What it means, how it is secured and how it is enshrined and protected. This means real heft needs to be put into progressing the upcoming online safety bill which has been long delayed. Getting this into the statute book is in the interests of all of us – particularly children and young people.
Young people can find counselling if they are having problems at school, family issues, or are feeling depressed, by visiting – https://bit.ly/3TE84pQ
You can start your fostering journey by calling 0330 311 2845.
Next year Rainbow will be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. We are now one of the leading fostering organisations in the UK – rated ‘Outstanding in all areas’ by Ofsted. To become a foster carer, you must be over the age of 21 and have a spare room. Whatever your status – married, gay, divorced, single, or cohabiting, you will be able to foster. And anyone can become a carer whatever their sexual orientation, ethnicity, or cultural background.
Visiting our website’s FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page has the answers to many of the questions we receive about fostering. This helpful resource can be found at – https://rainbowfostering.co.uk/frequent-asked-questions/
If you do not find the answer to your own particular question, please do not hesitate to call us.
We examine the rich and varied world of fostering on the numerous topics explored in our website’s blog section – this is intended to be a knowledge bank for anyone involved in fostering, or interested in the issues connected with it. https://rainbowfostering.co.uk/foster-care-and-education-in-a-post-pandemic-world/
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