Me and My Second Family: When Children Live in Foster Care

Sometimes children cannot stay with their biological (birth) parents. This may be because their parents are ill or are unable to look after their children due to challenges the parents are facing. In such cases, foster families can step in to help. A foster family is like a second family where children can live temporarily or until they grow up. The tasks of foster parents are the same as those of any parent: they play with the children, offer emotional support, help with homework, provide food and drink, and ensure a safe home environment. Nevertheless, moving to a new family is a big change and can be challenging. Some children may be angry or sad, have difficulty trusting new people, or may have experienced bad things. Most importantly, however, children and foster parents are not alone in these situations. There is a large team, called the foster care system, which ensures that children and parents feel their best.