It can be confusing and scary for a child to enter foster care. The child might not understand why he/she was taken away from mom or dad and the child has to get used to a new home, new rules, and new caregivers. It is common for a child to experience a wide range of feelings or behaviors as he/she makes a transition into foster care. Some examples of common feelings and behaviors include:

• Aggression
• Withdrawal
• Depression
• Regression to younger behaviors such as baby talk or bedwetting
• Fantasies about parents (unrealistic idealization)
• Confusion over new rules and roles
• Inappropriate affection towards strangers (too affectionate or too distant/fearful)
• School Difficulties

On the positive side, there are a lot of things a foster parent can do to help improve the development of a child in their life and help them handle their feelings and behavior in an appropriate way. See If I am a foster parent, what can I do to help the child in my life? for more information.