Why Transitions Are Tough for Autistic Foster Children

Transitions can be tough for anyone because, let’s face it, change is hard, especially when it interrupts your routine and forces you out of your comfort zone.

But for children in care, who rely on their routine to feel safe and secure, transitions can often feel more uncomfortable, confusing and overwhelming. When a foster child is also autistic, they are even more vulnerable to the challenges change brings.

As the foster carer of an autistic child, they’ll need your support to guide them through transitions – from the intense emotions they evoke to adapting to the new normal.

In this blog, you’ll learn why autistic children can find change difficult, the types of transitions they may experience while in your care, and strategies to help them.

autism struggle with transitions

Why children with autism struggle with transitions

Autistic children can often see the world as a scary and confusing place because their brains are wired to process sensory information differently. This means they rely on predictable routines and repetition to make sense of their surroundings and to feel safe.

For example, they may prefer to eat the same meals at the same time every day, always complete tasks in the same order, and have a need to know precisely when and what happens next.

When things deviate from an autistic child’s familiar schedule, or unplanned changes happen, it might cause a great deal of stress and anxiety, which can trigger big emotions or self-soothing ‘stimming’ activities to calm themselves, such as hand flapping or pacing.

As a result, children on the autism spectrum can find transitions difficult, regardless of whether they’re big or small, permanent or temporary. While neurotypical children might find moving from one task to another easy, or going on holiday exciting, autistic children may need more support to help them manage these changes.

Transitions a child may experience

One of the most significant transitions a foster child will experience is moving into care, but change doesn’t stop there – it happens throughout childhood, and could include things like:

  • Moving to another foster home.
  • Moving house with their foster family.
  • Welcoming another child into the home.
  • Experiencing the death of a loved one.
  • Starting secondary school or moving to a new school.
  • Sitting their exams.
  • Leaving care.

Autistic children might not just struggle with the big things that happen in life; they may also find the little changes that occur throughout the year and during the day, distressing. This could be switching from one classroom to another, changing activities or contending with sudden changes, like a school snow day. It could also be taking a break from the structured school routine during the holidays, or taking a trip to an unfamiliar place.

The good news is that with some planning and creativity, you can help autistic children who struggle with transitions to feel safe and secure when change comes.

How to help a child who struggles with transitions

Stick closely to their usual routine

When transitions happen, your foster child’s routine is likely to change to some extent. But one of the best ways you can help them continue to feel safe and secure is to keep some elements of their routine the same.

For example, during the school holidays, sticking to the same wake-up time, bedtime, and mealtimes will provide an element of structure and familiarity to their day. And if you offer interim foster care and your foster child is transitioning to another home, passing on as much information about the child’s routine to their next foster carers will help them as they begin to settle into their new foster home.

Eliminate the element of surprise

Not knowing what an environment is going to look like, who’s going to be there and what’s going to happen and when, can turn a well-meaning day trip you’ve planned for fun, into something of a nightmare for autistic children.

That’s where tools like AccessAble come in handy. Just type in the postcode or name of the place you’re visiting, and you’ll find a guide which includes photos and useful information for people with SENDs. You can use this information to walk your foster child through the day, from the car park to entering the place of interest, toilets and places to eat.

You could also create an itinerary that breaks down the day into manageable chunks and shows them exactly what will happen and when. This removes the element of surprise that many children on the autism spectrum find difficult, allowing them to have fun on the day without the anxiety of the unknown.

Use visuals and props

Many autistic children are visual learners, which means they find it easier to process information through pictures, videos and diagrams, rather than through verbal instructions alone.

When a transition changes your foster child’s schedule, you can help them process the change, remember their new routine, and reduce anxiety by creating a visual schedule that shows them a step-by-step of their day in pictures and displaying it in their bedroom.

If your foster child struggles to transition between tasks, you can also use props such as sand timers and alarms on your phone to help them recognise when it’s time to move on to the next task.

Preparation

Planning well ahead is the key to helping autistic foster children through transitions.

For example, if you’re moving house, your foster child may need to visit your new home a few times, practice the journey from the new home to school, spend time in the new community, and plan the décor of their new room before moving in. So you’ll need to plan far in advance to ensure you can fit all of these steps in before moving day.

Part of the planning process for any transition is also making sure your foster child has a little ready-to-use emergency kit of things that make them feel better when they’re overwhelmed and dysregulated. This could be their favourite fidget toy, noise-cancelling headphones, or a special blanket that brings them comfort.

Preparation doesn’t just help your foster child, it helps you too. When you know that you have planned well, you’ll have the confidence to guide your foster child through the transition because you’ll be prepared for whatever it brings.

Trial and error

Autistic children are all unique, which means what might work for one child may not work for another and vice versa, so don’t get disheartened if you implement a strategy and it doesn’t go to plan.

It will take some time, trial and error to find approaches that work for you and your foster child, until eventually you’ll have some in your back pocket, ready to use.

We’re here to support you

At FCA Scotland, we understand the challenges autistic foster children face, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. From our fostering allowance and perks to our wrap-around support and extensive training, you’ll have everything you need to transform the lives of vulnerable children in Scotland.

Whether you provide solo foster care or foster as part of a couple, we’ll be here for you.

To learn more about fostering with FCA Scotland, call us today on 0141 646 4805 or submit your details via our online form, and we’ll call you.

autism and transitions

How Many Children are in Foster Care in Scotland?

The latest children in foster care statistics reveal that between 2023 and 2024, 9,531 children were looked after away from home by their local authority in Scotland.

Despite this number having decreased by 2% from the previous year, around 3,000 children still enter care in Scotland each year. The problem is that there has been a 17% drop in foster carers over the past five years, which means there are fewer foster families available to care for these children.

What does this mean for the most vulnerable young people in society, and what can you do to help? From why children are in foster care to how the foster carer shortage impacts them, join us to find out how you can make a life-changing difference to young people in Scotland.

children in foster care

Why are children in foster care?

There are a few reasons why a child might need foster care. Here are the most common:

  • Abuse: They’ve experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and it’s unsafe for them to live at home.
  • Neglect: They’ve had their physical, emotional, educational or medical needs neglected, and need a foster family who can meet their needs.
  • Complex needs: They have complex medical needs or disabilities, which their family are struggling to manage.
  • Seeking asylum: They’re an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child who has had no choice but to flee their home country to find safety alone in the UK.
  • Family dysfunction: They’ve witnessed domestic violence, or there’s conflict between them and a parent or sibling at home.
  • Parental illness: Their parent or caregiver might be receiving treatment in a hospital, and they have no family to stay with.
  • Parent or guardian death: They may have lost their parent or guardian, and there’s no one suitable to care for them.
  • Family acute stress: Their family could be experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.

 

How long do children stay in foster care?

This depends on why a child is in foster care in the first place. For example, if their parent or caregiver is receiving treatment in a hospital, they may only need foster care for a few days or weeks. But if returning home would put them at risk, they could stay in foster care until they turn 18, or longer through a continuing care agreement.

That’s why here at FCA Scotland, we offer several types of fostering:

  • Interim fostering: From a few nights to two years while a long-term plan is made for a child’s care, such as returning to their family, adoption, or a long-term foster home.
  • Long-term fostering: From two years up until a child turns 18. Long-term foster care is usually chosen for children when returning home, or adoption isn’t suitable.
  • Emergency foster care: From a few hours up to a couple of weeks while their circumstances are assessed or extended family members are contacted.
  • Short break fostering: From a weekend to a couple of weeks. This type of foster care supports other foster parents, allowing them to rest and recharge while their foster child is cared for by another foster family.

We also provide types of fostering for children with specific needs, such as specialist fostering for children with disabilities and those seeking asylum. A foster parent could look after these children on a short-term or long-term basis, depending on their care plan.

How does the shortage of foster carers impact children?

Moving into care can be a scary and confusing time for children and young people; they have to leave everything behind and face an uncertain future. But when there aren’t enough foster families to provide the stability and safety of a loving home, these children face additional challenges:

  • They may have no choice but to move further away from the only community they’ve ever known and the people they love because there are no foster families available in their area.
  • They could experience separation from their siblings, which can have a profound impact on their sense of identity and leave them feeling incredibly lonely.
  • They might have to live in a home that isn’t quite the right fit, which means they may have to move again when a more suitable home becomes available.
  • If they have to move far away from home and experience frequent moves, it could disrupt their education, ability to form friendships, and affect their sense of stability, belonging, and safety.
  • If the local authority can’t find a suitable home for a child within their own or a fostering agency’s pool of foster parents, they may decide to move them into residential care.

How can you help vulnerable children?

The best way you can help vulnerable children and young people who need a loving home is by becoming a foster carer. But what does it actually involve?

children in foster care

The role of a foster carer

Foster carers become a parental figure in children’s lives, opening their homes, welcoming them as part of the family, and taking care of them when their own families can’t.

Although it can be challenging, our foster carers tell us that it’s one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done.

Della and Sandy have been fostering in Fife with us for over 10 years, they said, “We wish we’d done it years ago. As soon as they come through the door, they’re part of the family and treated like that. Our home is their home.” Read their fostering story.

Fostering is a varied role. On one day, you might be advocating for a child’s health and educational needs, whereas on another day, you could be helping them create memories by taking them on a day out with your family. But whatever each day brings, you’ll be by their side, changing their life for the better.

Are foster carers paid?

Yes, foster carers receive an allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child. But at FCA Scotland, our foster payments also reward you for your commitment to providing children with a happy home.

In fact, our fostering allowances are far above those recommended by The Fostering Network. On average, our foster carers receive £28,540 per year, per child in their care, which is typically tax-free.

You’ll also have access to additional perks, including:

  • £250 bonus payment every summer and winter.
  • Up to 14 nights paid short break care.
  • Special gifts or experiences for each fostering milestone you reach.
  • Annual events to celebrate the role you play in changing young lives.
  • An additional appreciation bonus each year, which rises in line with your length of service with us.
  • Access to our foster parent rewards platform, saving you money on things like everyday expenses, family fun, and holidays.

Do you need experience to foster?

No, you don’t need any experience to become a foster carer. All you need is a compassionate heart and a desire to truly make a difference. You’ll also need to meet the initial requirements:

  • You must be 21 or over.
  • You must have a spare bedroom for a young person to make their own.
  • You must have the legal right to work in the UK.

When you join FCA Scotland, you’ll receive extensive training, and you’ll have the backing of our incredible team, which includes social workers, education experts, therapists and more.

We’ll be on your fostering journey with you, offering our advice, guidance, and full support to help you grow both personally and professionally.

“The nicest part of fostering is knowing that you’ve grown as a person with these children too, and knowing you are making the children feel safe and well connected.”

“I like FCA Scotland’s Team Parenting approach – it’s wraparound support for you and the child, so you can care for them in the best way possible. It’s the reason they stood out for us.” Shannon, a FCA Scotland foster carer from West Lothian. Read her fostering story.

Ready to start your journey?

If you want to help us close the gap between the number of children in foster care and foster families available to care for them, start your fostering journey today.

Call us on 0141 646 4805 or submit an enquiry form. Our friendly and experienced team are ready to answer your questions and help you take your first steps into this exciting and rewarding new chapter.

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