Why do you need a spare room to foster?
A question we get asked frequently is: Do I need a spare room to be able to foster? The answer to this is yes.
We will go into detail in this article to explain why you need a spare room and why it’s so important for foster children to have their own bedroom.
Reasons why you need a spare room in your home
There are a number of reasons why you need a spare room in your home, this includes reasons around the child’s safety, security, and privacy.
Everyone requires their own space, especially children and young people, regardless of whether they have been brought up in foster care or not. A bedroom is an essential tool in helping to keep foster children feel calm and relaxed. A bedroom is a space that foster children can call their own, so they have the opportunity to explore, play and be creative, without any unnecessary distractions.
A bedroom provides foster children with a level of security, privacy and safety that cannot be found in any other area of the home. During the early stages of a foster placement, the child or young person may need some time to adjust and adapt to their new surroundings.
A spare room acts as a safe haven. Ensuring a foster child has their own safe haven will help them adjust and adapt to their new surroundings, and ensure they feel more comfortable with their foster family.
Create a welcoming space for the child
With all this in mind, you can turn your spare room into a special space that a foster child would adore. You don’t have to spend too much money on this, neither do you need to renovate your home. You can create a special place by upcycling some items or painting the room in fresh light colours to make it feel more welcoming. You can also work with your foster child to make the room theirs by letting them add a few things to the room that adds their own personality into it.
Get in touch
We hope this article has been helpful and that you are now aware about the importance of having a spare room for a foster child. Our team is here to give you all the advice you need on how to become a foster carer. Feel free to call our friendly fostering team on 020 8489 3754, enquire online via our dedicated e-form if you prefer:
We are here to get you on the path to a truly rewarding career as a foster carer.