Parents want to see their children thrive in school. Adoptive and foster children and teens can face distinct challenges, especially in certain aspects of school life.
Stability in schooling is crucial for a student’s academic success; however, students from difficult home situations can struggle to stay in one school or even school system. Foster and adoptive children sometimes have to change schools mid-year and, at times, more than once during periods of home transition.
Even with a long-lasting home placement and a consistent schooling arrangement, other aspects of schooling are challenging for foster and adoptive children. Here are some of the most common.
Challenges for Foster and Adoptive Children in School
Distraction
ADHD
Many studies show that there is a “high prevalence” of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) among foster children due to how experiencing distress and trauma at a young age impacts neurodevelopment. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a person experiences attention deficits and hyperactivity on a spectrum. Individuals with this disorder often struggle to focus in school. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for both boys and girls with ADHD.
If your child exhibits characteristics of ADHD (for example, distractedness, forgetfulness, fidgeting, “hyper” behavior), take them to get an assessment with a child psychiatrist (or psychologist with the credentials to diagnose). If your child receives an ADHD diagnosis, the diagnosing physician can help you look into behavioral therapies or medication that can help them improve their focus.
Other Causes of Distractedness
Even if your foster or adoptive child does not have ADHD, there are many reasons they might become distracted at school.
- Focus issues present from sleep deprivation. Your foster child might be tired from inadequate rest because they stayed up too late. You can remedy this by implementing an earlier bedtime.
- A poor diet can influence your child’s school performance and focus. Ensure your child has adequate nutrition for optimal development and power through the school day.
- Your foster or adoptive child could be distracted at school because they’re missing a previous foster family or something else about their home life has them losing focus. This is something to address with empathetic conversation, encouragement, and professional counseling.
- If your child struggles to focus on a particular school subject, sit down with them and patiently help them work on their homework, showing them problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You can also find ways to make subjects they consider boring more fun, like teaching them songs that serve as mnemonic devices or turning answering homework questions into a trivia game!
- Your child could even be distracted because they are more advanced than other students, and they need more challenges in the classroom to engage their minds. If this could be the case, talk to school administrators about moving them to a higher level course.
Learning Differences
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to academic success; not everyone learns the same way!
Early experiences of adversity impact many foster children’s neurodevelopment; this is often the cause for the high prevalence of ADHD among foster children, but it also can lead to other forms of neurodiversity that can impact academic performance.
Dyslexia or dyscalculia are two learning disabilities prevalent for foster children, affecting their performance in reading and mathematics. If your child is struggling with these academic skills or others despite having the same tools and opportunities as everyone else, they may have a learning disability. Often, teachers notice these differences and notify parents, but you might catch it at an earlier age than they do. If you or your child’s teacher suspects your child has a learning disability, arrange the learning accommodations they need with their teachers or guidance counselors.
There is no shame in giving your foster or adoptive child the tools they need to succeed academically, even if that makes them unique among their classmates or your other children.
Bullying
Unfortunately, bullying is a common problem that most children face—especially foster and adoptive children—in school. Foster children are often targets of bullying because bullies victimize others by using their insecurities against them, and it’s usually an insecurity the victim has no control over.
One of the best things to do when your foster child is a target of bullying is to explain how bullies work and why responding with confidence and kindness should help drive bullies away: Bullies are looking for attention however they can get it, even if it is negative.
You can also remind your child how bullies usually pick on children who have what they don’t; that bully may be jealous of your child because of the love and attention they get from you.
Other efforts to consider for supporting your child impacted by bullying include offering to take your foster child to counseling, giving comfort and advice, and addressing the issue with school administrators or teachers.
Supporting Your Foster Children in School
Here’s how you can offer support to your foster or adoptive child.
Lead With Unconditional Love
There’s no better way to support your foster children in school than by unconditionally loving them, spending quality time together, and treating them with dignity.
Children need to know they’re loved—their self-esteem depends on it. Self-esteem is a critical component of a child’s overall development, directly affecting their success in school and the rest of their lives.
Build Trust
To be a comforting, supportive parent for foster children in school, you must raise them with truth, empathy, and reliability; this is crucial for building trust with foster and adoptive children.
Ensure They Have Enriching Opportunities
Extracurriculars open the door for your child to build new skills, make and maintain friendships, and find enjoyment in school.
If any extracurriculars excite your foster or adoptive child in school, run with it and try to make that opportunity possible for them. For example, if your child wants to join a debate team, art class, or chess club, be supportive and do what it takes to help them do it!
Our Work
We hope this article is helpful for foster and adoptive parents in supporting their children. At the Children’s Home, we can offer insight and guidance as our house parents send our residents to school every day, so we know how challenging it can be.
As a parent, your compassion and care give children a chance at a better life and allow them to feel unconditional love they may not have known otherwise. If you need further guidance or support, we would love to help. We accept referrals for children and teens year-round from all over the country.
Supporting Our Mission
We do everything possible to give our residents the best school and home experience. To do this work, we depend on the community’s financial assistance and spiritual support.
If you would like to be a blessing to the Home and our residents, please send gifts as you are able and mark them appropriately so we know how to use them!