How do I deal with older foster children: Preventing them falling into the wrong crowds?

Ultimately, you have to give your foster child the freedom to choose who their friends are. However, you can educate them on what makes good friends, and ones that are not the best fit, not just for them, but in general, too. Here are some qualities that make a good friend so your foster child can navigate who they should keep in their lives and spend their time with:

• Supportive – They support your foster child’s successes, aspirations and feelings.
• Empathetic – They’re compassionate and understanding and empathise with your foster child.
• Honest – A good friend of your foster child will be honest with them at all times.
• Trustworthy – They follow through on their commitments and won’t talk about your foster child’s secrets and failings.
• Non-judgemental – Someone your foster child feels comfortable sharing their most authentic selves, without fear of ridicule or judgement.
• Loyal – Standing up for your foster child and always being there for them, especially when they need them most.
• Positive – They believe in your foster child’s abilities and attributes. They push them forward so they become their best selves, looking for the good in even the most mundane of moments.

You can also encourage your foster child to explore certain environments where they’re more likely to make good friends. These could be anywhere that caters to your foster child’s interests, making them more likely to meet like-minded people and form deeper, more substantial and long-lasting friendships.