What are the options?

[Finallysawthelight]

Hi so we're thinking about fostering but I don't think I'm ready for teenagers just yet. Can we choose to foster primary aged children or is it a case of having to accept the child that is placed with you? Apologies in advance I'm really new to fostering so I'm just trying to get as much information as possible before we go ahead with it so we're prepared as much as possible to support any child placed with us.

Yes, you can specify everything, age/gender/sibling groups etc
They may ask you to take others outside of your preference but you don't have to say yes.
It's very unlikely you'd be asked to take on a teenager until you're experienced anyway as that often comes with challenges unique to the age bracket.

Thanks @POTC that's really helpful.

My cousin fostered for many years, she clearly stated she wouldn’t have DC over primary school age, although the last DC she fostered were 10 year old twins who had Down syndrome and she was only supposed to have them temporarily but they stayed over 10 years. Her own DC were becoming adults themselves and moving out, so it worked well.