“My heritage language defines me in a way”: Exploring the meaning of language in foster care

Marte Knag Fylkesnes, Ingrid Höjer, Ragnhild Hollekim, Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg

Childhood: A journal of global child research

Published online on March 10, 2026

Abstract

Childhood, Ahead of Print.
The article explores how children with migrant backgrounds, placed in foster care, perceive and navigate heritage language maintenance. We analyse qualitative interviews with 14 children and 27 foster carers in Norway and Sweden. Findings indicate that ...