“This is me, the way I want to be”

Developing a child’s interests and creativity is just one way that foster parents make a difference to a child’s life. Creativity and poetry can have a positive impact on a child’s development; enhancing their social and emotional learning, and providing a form of expression to process their thoughts and feelings.

The transformation we witness of children and young people in foster care who receive that support and encouragement from their foster family is staggering. Rachel’s foster parents Virginia and Kirsteen spoke of her creativity and the reasons they help encourage this: “Any creativity for younger people, especially poetry, is a great opportunity to express themselves and open up their imagination, using language. Looked after children can seem to find it difficult or confusing to communicate their emotions. All creativity is a tool for having a positive outlet”. They have been immensely proud of Rachel and what she has achieved, stating “There have been small and significant moments that we let her know we are proud of. Children need to hear this. Rachel’s confidence and self-esteem have developed so much”.

Now, more than ever, young people need that outlet to express themselves and make sense of their world and we’re inspired every day by the ways our foster parents are supporting children to do this. Finding creative ways to share their emotions, views and ideas is fundamental in their positive emotional development – and by providing this support as a foster parent, we will see the difference in their confidence, outlook and essentially their whole life.