Fostering During the Pandemic
Shqiponja, Foster Carer, May 2020
"This pandemic has been hard on us in different ways, with the uncertainty, the fear and having to dramatically change our every day lifestyles. It took some time to get used to the new routine of having to work from home and the children having to study from home. At first, it took a lot for them to get motivated and really understand why they still had to study, even if they weren't going into School and that this isn't a holiday. I created some activities to help them stay happy and active throughout this time at home.
"Every so often we have a family meeting to explain to them specifically what is happening in a way that they understand so that they take the situation seriously. We have created a timetable and they make sure to stick to this.
"We have explained what an outstanding job the NHS has done for the UK and created posters (featured below) to show our appreciation and thank you for the NHS saving lives. This was helpful in allowing the children to stay connected with the outside world and understand why they can’t go out. We talk about how other people are helping and contributing. This keeps our hopes high and smiles on our faces.
"My foster children have also been finding their own ways to stay busy in the house. My foster son draws beautifully and has high attention to detail, he makes lovely drawings and shows them to us when he’s finished. My foster daughter is equally as creative, constantly making different things, experimenting, trying on different outfits, taking photos and videos. They are both making good use of their time, learning new skills and have gotten into the routine of doing their homework and submitting on time. We have also explained to them why it is important to stay fit and healthy whilst always staying at home and they both focus on their health by exercising."