Foster Children And Bullying

As young children and teenagers head back to school, it’s natural for parents to worry about bullying. According to stopbullying.gov, an official website of the US government, about 20% of students ages 12-18 experience bullying nationwide. And that’s not even counting the children being picked on in elementary grade levels!

Obviously, bullying is a common issue that is happening both in and out of classrooms, as well as online, from teasing, exclusion, and threats, to physical harm. Kids in foster care face many challenges, and often, bullying can be one of them. Here, we will discuss what parents can do when your foster child is being bullied — and when your foster child is the bully.

When Your Foster Child Is Being Bullied

It is important for parents to be vigilant with students of all ages and grade levels, because bullying can be difficult to detect in many cases. Some children are afraid to communicate what is happening for various reasons, or they may not show conspicuous signs of bullying. This is especially a concern for foster children who have come from an abusive home and are accustomed to putting up walls. However, there are a few red flags foster parents can look for, beyond outward scrapes and bruises.

• Is your child unhappy or unusually emotional?
• Is your child anxious or withdrawn?
• Is your child reluctant to go to school?
• Is your child avoiding friends or activities they once enjoyed?

If you suspect something is wrong, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes, showing concern and support can help younger children ease into difficult conversations, but when it comes to teenagers, don’t be surprised if you end up having to directly say, “Are you being bullied?”

If your suspicions are correct, and your foster child is being bullied, you need to find a way to resolve the situation and be an advocate for your child. Start by reaching out to the appropriate channels for assistance, from teachers and school administrators, to foster care counselors and therapeutic mentors. Parents should also be there for support and to keep the lines of communication open. It is also important to build confidence and self-esteem by encouraging foster kids and teens to be themselves.

When Your Foster Child Is The Bully

Children learn from the adults around them, and sadly, some youth in foster care have experienced neglect and aggression at home. They also lack control and are powerless against the hand they were dealt in life. Unfortunately, kids may react to their circumstances by becoming a bully to others, so it is important to keep your eyes open to recognize signs of this, as well. Often, the challenges that a child faces pour over into other aspects of their life. If your foster child is struggling or acting out as they head back to school, child welfare agencies like Camelot Care Centers offer therapeutic mentoring to help foster youth with anger management, coping, self-esteem, and social skills.

Every child needs and deserves to grow up safe and protected from abuse and neglect, and caring foster parents offer children support and stability when they need it most. At Camelot Care Centers, we specialize in higher-level foster care for children and adolescents that need extra support. We partner with our foster parents/homes to provide trauma informed care and additional services, including in-home counseling, parent support and training, tele-psychiatry, and therapeutic mentoring, to maintain children at the least restrictive, yet most appropriate level of care. Camelot Care Centers (“Camelot”) is a Child Welfare Agency.