Charity drafts in a community of yetis

A Dundee charity has partnered with a local company to support foster families and those they care for with their personal development.

Carolina House Trust, a fostering organisation, has teamed up with Get Set Yeti to create a suite of resources to support families caring for children and young people aged four to 18.

Encouraging learning through setbacks, the digital and hands-on resources help carers and children navigate everyday challenges from exams, friendship issues and peer pressure to feeling insecure or overwhelmed.

The fun and interactive activities are based around different yeti characters navigating the ups and downs of life. 

Taking on challenges and learning from them, children and young people see the impact and outcomes of a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset.

For those caring for younger children, learning resources, stories, games, songs and furry friends will spark discussions around everything from what makes a nurturing home to managing common issues that crop up for young people in care.

Navigating slippy stones on an imaginary walk in the woods, they can also enjoy problem-solving games to support with challenging times, strategies which they can reinforce as the child grows.  

Resources are also tailored to teenagers through gaming, and for staff and partner organisations supporting families and new carers. 

Charlene Bowman, people and development officer for Carolina House Trust, said: “As an employer, we have embedded growth mindset into our culture and across all areas of our work and are gaining so much from this approach.

“As a result, our team are in the best position to support our carers and young people, as well as maximise their self-development.”

Bowman added: “While fostering is exceptionally rewarding, supporting children and young people as they develop and grow can be challenging. Carolina House Trust isn’t just here to support families with the practical aspects of fostering.

“We’re also here to support them in building their resilience and wellbeing, so we’re delighted to add this suite of resources to the carers’ support package.”

Dundee foster parent Cindy Shanks (facing above) believes this approach to learning could be transformational: “The resources are helpful because they are fun games we can play as a family, a very well-disguised learning experience. We would use these resources as and when needed or when we notice a change in mood or behaviour in our young people.

“A growth mindset is very important to young people, because hopefully it will help them to not give up on things, to become resilient, and build their confidence and self-belief.”

Carol Arnott, managing director of Get Set Yeti, said it was their belief that every child should feel successful and have the same opportunities as others regardless of personal circumstances.

“Perseverance is the key to learning and growth, and our resources can support both the carer and child with this approach,” she said.

“Rather than viewing a mistake or wrong turn as a negative, a growth mindset turns it into something to build upon, taking you close to your goal. Rather than focusing on an academic result, a growth mindset sees effort as the priority and mistakes part of that process.

“Part of a parent or carer’s role is to be a child’s cheerleader but, to help a young person develop confidence and resilience, our resources help carers to focus on praising the effort and determination shown by the child, rather than their ability.

“We want young children to understand that even though they might not be able to do something in that moment, they just can’t do it yet, and be left with the expectation that they’ll get there if they persevere.

“The resources also help diffuse anxiety when things go wrong by helping children see mistakes as just part of the process.”