We face lots of different challenges throughout our lives. Building resilience is an essential tool for dealing with tough times and helping us cope when things go wrong. Often, teenagers in care have to deal with more issues than the average teenager, so it’s key that they have this tool to help them manage their emotions and maintain a growth mindset to build brighter futures for themselves.
As well as dealing with the usual stresses of academic pressure, social media, and peer pressure, teenagers in care carry a lot of trauma. The majority of children who come into care have experienced abuse, neglect, or loss, so it’s crucial that they have the support they need to work past these traumas and thrive in their new environment. Supporting teens in foster care to build resilience will give them the emotional tools they need to live happy and healthy lives.
We’re going to take a closer look at balancing risk and resilience when raising teenagers in care, including what you can do to help nurture resilience, and encouraging them to take considered risks.
What is resilience?
We all go through difficult situations at some point in our lives. Resilience is the thing that allows us to bounce back from these issues and instead look at building positive outcomes. We build up resilience throughout our lives depending on our lived experiences, and it’s crucial to helping us work past the bad things that happen in life.
It’s important that we all have resilience to work through these issues as they arise, adapting to changes and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Our teenage years are times of rapid change which can often be emotional and difficult to deal with, from exams to deciding what career you want to pursue in the future.
Why is resilience important for teenagers in care?
Teenagers in care can have more issues to deal with than the average teen, too, as we’ve briefly touched on above. If they haven’t had the toolkit they need to build up resilience throughout their younger years, this can make challenges that they encounter even more stressful and upsetting. Without resilience, it’ll be all too easy for these teenagers in care to want to give up entirely rather than tackle the issue head-on and work past it.
Resilience is so important for working past trauma and building brighter futures. It’s essential that teenagers are given the support they need to improve their ability to bounce back. Whatever has happened in their past doesn’t need to impact their future. By teaching them to move forward after setbacks, teenagers in care can better adapt, recover, and thrive beyond their traumatic experiences.
Balancing risk and resilience: tips from a Clifford House social worker
We asked one of our social workers, Louise, for her advice on balancing risk and resilience when raising teenagers in care. These are her top tips for helping teens work through their emotions each time they encounter a setback:
- You have to remain calm. If you’re not calm, then there’s no one to help your young person regulate when they’re trying to work through strong emotions.
- Be present. That might just be sitting outside their room to check that they’re okay and to show them they’re not alone if they’re struggling.
- Be an empathetic listener. Listen to their concerns and show them how to bounce back from recent setbacks.
- Encourage coping strategies, such as eating well, maintaining a routine, and getting enough sleep.
- Set clear boundaries. Establish clear and fair rules with their consent and help them to understand consequences.
- Build self-esteem. Give them high praise and encourage all of the wins.
- Build strong relationships with them. Spend time building something you can do together.
How can I help to nurture resilience in teenagers in foster care?
As we’ve briefly discussed above, building natural resilience will be essential for navigating the ups and downs of life. Sometimes things won’t always go your way, but that doesn’t mean the world is going to end. By supporting teens in foster care to increase their resilience, we can help them to better cope with setbacks and disappointments they may encounter in later life.
Here are just a few things to consider encouraging to help teenagers in your care:
- Growth mindset – failure is a natural part of life, but this should be seen as an opportunity to learn and improve.
- Open communication – create a safe space where teenagers in your care feel like they can talk to you about anything on their minds or worries without fear or judgment.
- Mindfulness – using calming strategies, such as mindfulness, can help teens to better manage their emotions and work through these in a safe environment.
- Healthy coping mechanisms – encourage teenagers in your care to develop healthy ways to deal with anxieties and stress, such as creative outlets, hobbies, or sports.
- Realistic expectations – setting realistic goals for themselves can help teenagers in care to build better resilience, focusing on personal growth rather than comparing themselves to others.
- Promote independence – taking on age-appropriate responsibilities and making decisions can help teenagers in care to build their confidence and develop their problem-solving skills.
- Considered risks – encourage teenagers to take safe, considered risks that are age-appropriate. Facing their fears can help strengthen them, build their confidence, and show them that they are capable of overcoming difficulties that come their way.
The most important thing that you can do to help teenagers in foster care build their resilience is to give them an open, loving environment where they feel safe. By feeling secure and accepted for who they are, they won’t feel so alone when they’re going through difficult times. These positive relationships can have an immeasurable impact on a teen’s mental health and wellbeing, and their ability to build up resilience to what else life has in store.
Improving resilience will be an ongoing process that will require patience and understanding, especially with teenagers who are dealing with trauma. Each of these top tips that we’ve mentioned above can help your young person feel loved, supported, and better able to bounce back from setbacks that come their way.
What support can Clifford House offer for foster carers?
Clifford House is an agency that truly cares about our foster parents and the children in their care. We are passionate about ensuring all of our foster carers have the support they need, when they need it. Supporting teens in foster care shouldn’t be more difficult than it needs to be, and you should have all of the tools that you need to do an outstanding job.
Some of our support includes:
- A 24/7 helpline giving you access to a social worker whenever you need support.
- A generous package of financial support, including a fantastic fostering allowance.
- Social support, including meet ups for our foster families, support groups, and coffee mornings.
- Training, both mandatory as well as a huge library of online training that you can complete at any time.
Curious about fostering?
Do you want to know more about fostering teenagers and how to get involved with foster care? Fill out our enquiry form or give us a ring on 0800 369 8515 to speak to a friendly member of our team about fostering.
We can talk you through what fostering could look like for you, including different types of fostering, and answer any questions you may have about fostering teenagers or children of any age.
Fostering is such a rewarding experience for those who choose to do it, offering young people in need the help and love that they deserve to build brighter futures.