Adopting Older Kids: A Practical Guide

Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews the authors of Adopting Older Children: A Practical Guide to Adopting and Parenting Kids Over Age Four.

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What are some common reasons you hear from families as to why they chose to adopt an older child?
The transition period is vastly different depending on whether you are adopting from foster care or internationally, and if adopting from foster care, whether you are the child’s current foster family. In other words, whether the child is already living with you. Can you give us some tips for the transition period depending on these different scenarios.
How to set realistic expectations and routines with a newly adopted older child?
Why is it important to establish a routine, and what if you are the more spontaneous type of person?
What to do when the honeymoon period is over and your wonderful child becomes less wonderful?
How to teach kids to live in a family and to have parents when they never have had this experience before.
Why do kids test boundaries?
Tips for preparing your relatives and friends for your adopting a child over the age of four.
Are open adoptions in the best interest of children adopted at an older age?
How to handle if the child’s behavior goes downhill after a visit? How can you decide if contact with previous foster family or birth family is beneficial to your child? What are some signs to look for?
How to talk with older kids about their biological family when often times their birth family made poor decisions or abused them or neglected them?
Parenting tips for raising an adopted child who experienced abuse or neglect.
How to reach families after they adopt with resources and support?
What type of services are available nationally?
How to find local post-adoption services?
With help, can most children thrive in their adopted families?
Finding an adoption therapist to work with your child
What makes a good adoption therapist?
Should parents be involved in the child’s therapy?
How to find an adoption competent therapist.
What if an adoptive parent cannot find an adoption competent therapist in their area? What options do they have?
What have you seen as far as resiliency and post trauma growth in kids adopted at an older age?