A foster child in the classroom
Research by Daisy Smeets shows that many teachers lack the right knowledge and support when a foster child comes into the classroom. She hopes to change this with the website consult.org.
Image: Angeliek de Jonge
The number of foster children fluctuates around 20 thousand per year. Due to an unsafe home situation, they live with a foster family, where they usually also go to school nearby. “There is a good chance that every teacher will have to deal with a foster child at some point,” says Daisy Smeets, teacher of pedagogical sciences at Leiden University. She is an expert in adoption and foster care and researched the challenges teachers experience when a foster child comes into the classroom.
Foster children often struggle with educational disadvantages, concentration problems, fears and behavioral problems.
“For a child it is of course quite something to have to go to a new family and a new school. There is a lot of attention for the foster family, but no previous research has been done into how teachers can best take care of a foster child. ”
It is known, however, that foster children often suffer from educational disadvantages, concentration problems, fears and behavioral problems.
Her research among 150 primary school teachers shows that teachers need support, both in terms of content and in practical terms. Many of the challenges that teachers face can be traced back to attachment problems, says Smeets. “A child who has been abused at home and has had different foster families three times will not immediately trust his new teacher or classmates. Some will not ask for help, while others will claim you or start behaving negatively. ”
Low self esteem
A big misunderstanding is that attachment problems cannot be resolved. It is possible, according to Smeets, with a lot of patience and a consistent approach. “It is important that the child feels that you will be there for him. Many foster children have low self-esteem; they wonder if they are worth loving. As a teacher you can make a difference. If you show that there are people you can trust, their trust will grow and they will also dare to enter into relationships later. ”
It is good to be aware of the latest developments
Everything stands or falls with a good start in the classroom. Not every child wants classmates to be informed, while others want to tell about this. According to Smeets, it is best to discuss this with the new student in advance, as well as where he wants to sit (the front often does not feel safe) and what you call the foster parents. “One calls the foster mother 'mama', while the other calls her by her first name and the biological mother calls 'mama'. They are simple things, which a teacher may not even consider, but which are very important to a child. ”
It is also important for the teacher to maintain good contact with the foster parents. “A foster family is usually temporary, which means a lot of insecurity for the child. It is good to be aware of the latest developments. Also, for example, to know that a child is going back home for a weekend. This can create tension before and after in class, and it is nice that as a teacher you understand where this comes from and can respond to this. "
Handhold
“What's nice is that the class can offer a very safe situation for children,” says Smeets. “There are many routines at school. Children know what is going to happen and in what way, and that offers them something to hold on to. ” That is why being consistent is so important, she emphasizes. “Although you may be more inclined to overlook something with foster children, don't do that. That makes you less predictable and therefore less safe. "
As a result of her research, Smeets decided to use the website www.consult.org to develop. In films and short texts, questions such as: what about custody, how can I properly prepare for the arrival of a child and how do I build a bond? Documents are available, such as the checklist with questions to ask foster parents and the previous school. For those who want more depth, there are links to articles or other websites. “I hope that through this site, teachers can quickly prepare and find the support they need. Because even though it is a temporary situation, these children who have already been through so much deserve someone who is willing to invest in them. ”
