Ways the internet can benefit foster carers and children

Regardless of your views on the internet, it can often be a force for good, helping to improve people’s lives through providing information, routes, games and tools for everyday life.

As a foster carer, you are probably wondering how to promote the benefits of the internet to children in foster care that you might be looking after.

At Beacon Fostering, we promote the enrichment and development of foster children to succeed and achieve in preparation for later life. Here are some of the joys of the internet and useful resources for you and your foster children.

Positives for children

Using the internet has a plethora of benefits for children and young people. As well as playing games through various websites and platforms, they can find information to help them with homework, projects or for their own curiosity, watch TV shows and films through popular streaming services (some of which are free), and teach themselves new skills and crafts.

They can even keep in touch with friends and relatives, if the latter is appropriate.

Since the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, video calling software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have been popular for remote lessons, discussions and courses.

Resources

There are various websites that you can direct your foster child to for learning about internet safety. They include the NSPCC, CEOP, the UK Safety Internet Zone (for ages 3-11), Childnet and TechSheCan, which have games, websites and teaching resources that will be useful for families as well as the children themselves.

At Beacon Fostering, we take a family-centric approach to everything we do. For more information about our services and support, get in touch today.