Foster carers and parents commonly experience difficult issues when looking after Teenagers. There are many areas of potential conflict: agreeing on what is an acceptable time to stay out at night is one of the more common ones. But less attention is given to the issue of privacy and yet striking the right balance is essential to allow a teenager room for personal development. This includes learning new skills as well as exploring ideas about identity. 

A little understanding can go a long way.

Knowledge is usually an antidote to conflict. Understanding goes a long way. For example, it should be understood that a teenager’s brain will not be fully developed until they are around twenty-five – something many find surprising. Foster carers, parents and their teenagers commonly accuse one another of lacking understanding. This is so common as to be universal: something we all recognise. When something is universal there have to be underlying factors at work that are common to all of us, and there are: 

Research tells us that the brains of teenagers and adults work very differently. When adults are thinking the rational part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex is employed. This is the area that responds to events with judgement and an appreciation of long-term ramifications. It is important to appreciate that information is processed by teenagers in an entirely different part of the brain. This is the amygdala, which is concerned with emotions. The connections between this area and the decision-making centre of the brain are still developing and not always at the same rate. When all this is known, it is hardly surprising that foster carers, parents and teenagers are so often at loggerheads. Foster carers and parents need to appreciate that bringing up a teenager is also a period of huge adjustment for them. 

Privacy is about personal space. Teenagers face challenges as they get older because it is a period of dramatic emotional and physical change. They have to consider what kind of career might be right for them; how to fit in with their peer group – and always the prospect and the certainty of having to cope with romance for the first time. And all this whilst their brains are still developing. But what is meant by such a blanket term as development? It’s worth noting that; in simple terms, we all go through a process known as individuation. Pioneering work was done in this field by Carl Jung, who described the process as one of self-realisation, the discovery of both meaning and purpose in life. Ultimately individuation is the way one finds oneself and achieves a sense of true personal identity. Knowing this provides an understanding of the powerful forces that are at work within all of us that have a considerable impact during the teenage years. 

Privacy and personal space are needed by teenagers for healthy development. A youngster wanting more privacy does not mean they have something to hide. They should be able to have phone conversations with their friends or communicate via social media. It can be a difficult balancing act for foster carers and parents who still need to be aware of the risks social media can pose. They need to keep a watchful eye open for changes in behaviour that could indicate there is a problem. A certain amount of privacy is also necessary as it is connected with a young person’s developing sense of self and independence. 

A career in foster care has much to offer. 

Next year, Rainbow Fostering will have been training and supporting foster carers for twenty-five years. We are one of the leading independent foster care agencies with expertise in arranging well-matched placements meeting our carer’s preferences. 

We can promise you the best in training with the opportunities to specialise in different areas of foster care. These include Parent and Child fostering, therapeutic foster care, foster care for sibling groups, fostering teenagers, and foster care for disabled children. 

Fostering is a career that offers considerable flexibility together with the knowledge you will be making an enormous and positive difference in the life and prospects of vulnerable children and young people. Call 0330 311 2845 to talk with one of our knowledgeable team members about all the benefits we can offer you.

It’s a good idea to visit our website’s FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page. It can be found at – https://rainbowfostering.co.uk/frequent-asked-questions/ Visit our blog section – a growing knowledge bank for foster carers and anyone interested in the issues that surround fostering: recommended – https://rainbowfostering.co.uk/foster-carers-amazing/ In 2023 we will be running a campaign promoting the many benefits of pet ownership to support foster care placements. Children can benefit in many ways from looking after and sharing the responsibility of caring for a pet such as a dog. To learn more, visit – https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/fostering

The post Foster care: why privacy is important for teenagers appeared first on Rainbow.