Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Episode 30: Understanding the Adopted Child
1. Understand that “adoption” may be difficult to speak about
Children may not always be sure when and if we can speak about adoption, to whom, when, where and how much is okay to talk about.Some adopted children may not want to talk about adoption in front of anyone else.
2. Make sure that your adopted child knows they are adopted- don’t wait!
Tell your child when they are younger and as they get older include more details that are age appropriate
3. Understand that separation and death can be a trigger
In some aspects, regardless of the age a child is adopted, they may need a higher amount of reassurance than the average child.Adopted children want to feel secure and safe as well as permanency and focus on “forever.”Adopted children may have abandonment issues, even if they were adopted at birth.
4. Adopted children's behaviors should not always be attributed to adoption
Children may just get angry sometimes and it has nothing to do with being adoptedSometimes it may be easier to attribute issues to adoption and when am adopted child grows through a behavioral phase, it may or may not have anything to do with being adopted.If an adopted child is sensitive about being adopted and has triggers, make sure you are aware of those triggers and work on preventative measures to avoid them and de-escalate them.
If you are pregnant and are considering adoption, we are a licensed, full-service, non-profit Arizona Adoption Agency. You can contact us 24/7 at (623) 695-4112.
view more