Tips for Parents: How to Talk To Your Child About Adoption Having an adopted child is a precious gift for parents. Although the adoption process requires a lot of patience and enthusiasm, the rewards that come along with a successful adoption are simply incomparable. Most adoptions happen during infancy. According to US Adoption Statistics, most domestic adoptions involve adopted children ages 1 year-old and below. With this comes the challenge of telling the child they were adopted. Is there are perfect time to tell my child about his or her adoption?YC Chuccis_December 2012 Perhaps the guiding principle to this would be: the earlier, the better. Some people think their children are not ready to cope with complex situations and understand realities, but the truth is they possess the ability to accept information introduced to them. This includes the fact they are adopted. Starting off by introducing your child to the concept of adoption and then moving on to telling him or her they are an adopted child can be best. You might actually be surprised at how well they accept this new information. How should I say it? As mentioned earlier, first introduce the child to the concept of adoption, but never forget to emphasize, like all other children, your child was born under all the same circumstances. For instance, tell him or her they were born in just the same way as any other child. Explain even though they were born from another woman’s womb and she may not have been ready to become a parent at the time, you were. It is also important to let your child know you want to be his or her parent very much. Is there a best way to tell my child he or she is adopted? You are already proud of your son or daughter, and the fact they are adopted makes no difference in this matter. You want your child to feel the same way. Talk to your child about adoption openly and naturally, using positive language and of course starting early. Unlike adults, children’s minds are more adaptive and pliable. They are able to grasp a concept in the way you want them to, so help them to have the same positive impression of adoption that you have. It is, after all, how you became a family. Are there future challenges that I should be ready to deal with when my child learns that he or she is adopted? Research says that adopted children aged 6 to 8 years-old are more likely than non-adopted children to be popular, happy, and self-confident. This may be because they feel they are special or more
interesting than other children. However, as they become older your child may start asking potentially negative questions, such as “why was I adopted?” or “why did my birth mother not want me?” In such cases the best way to help your child deal with these emotions is to reassure them they are loved. Help them to understand families are formed in many different ways, but none of them are better or worse than any other. Never forget to maintain a positive view about their adoption too. In the end, how much you make your adopted child feel loved and cared for will be all that matters. For more details you can also visit on www.provplace.org.