How to Teach a Foster Child Skills for Success

The majority of foster children aren't successes after leaving foster care. For the most part, it's simply because they weren't taught the skills needed to survive on their own. They end up dependant on welfare because no one's there to correct their mistake. Make sure your foster child isn't one of these statistics.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Compassion
• Patience
• Camera
• Life books
• Scrapbook

Education and Rules

1. Restate on the first day of high school that what they do now will affect the rest of their life. Be sure they understand that grades will affect going to college and that not finishing high school or going to college could affect getting a job.

2. Discuss with the teen what they think they would like to do after they graduate. Discuss whether or not that means going to college. Also discuss the length of time for that degree and where they would like to go. Find out qualifications for the schools before class starts and help the teen aim for the highest qualification.

3. Take steps to ensure the teen can go to college if they would like to. Help encourage them, help them keep grades up and help them keep focused. Get lessons for special interests such as music, dancing, writing, art or sports.

4. Allow the teen to choose their own extra curricular activities. Do insist that they take a class on parenting. Classes on sewing, cooking or other household skills should be taken, as well. These are often good ways to decide what they want to do in life. Make sure that you only restrict these activities for major offenses such as fighting, drugs or chronic bad grades.

5. Set rules for dating, activities and parties. These may change over time. Let the teen know you are there any time they need you and to talk to you when they are confused.

6. Set chores, allowance and other house rules. Chores teach responsibility, allowance teaches money management and house rules help pave the way for the child to be a law-abiding citizen. They may also help when looking for a job.

Prepare Them to Be an Adult

7. Be sensitive when letting people know the teen is a foster child. By now, most foster children have decided how they will handle letting people know about their foster care status. Let them lead you how to do this. If you still don't know what to do, ask the teen.

8. Get the teen a driver's manual, and sign them up for a driving class when they are sophomores or fifteen years old. You should check into these classes when enrolling freshman year to learn when is the best time to sign up.

9. Help the teen get a job when they are old enough. Make sure they keep their grades up as well.

10. Help the teen get a bank account. Encourage them to save most or all of their money for important things and when they are on their own. Teach them how to use a checkbook and checkbook register. Teach them about credit.

11. Encourage the teen to continue journaling. This will help them work problems out on their own.

12. Let the teen take the responsibility for their scrapbook and life book.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat them like an adult. The more respect you show them, the more they will show you.
• Have faith in them. The more responsibility they are given, the more responsible they will be.