Adoptive Parenting

In most ways, parenting adopted children is like parenting children by birth – you love, you teach, you worry, and you set limits. You thrill in their accomplishments and you support them through their failures because that is what parents do. However, parenting a child that is born to and shares genetic ties with another family has some unique issues about which adoptive parents need to be aware.

We cover some of these issues in other sections of this site, such as talking with kids about adoption, school issues, and prenatal exposure. The rest we cover here.

What Unique Considerations Should Adoptive Parents Consider for Kids Using the Internet?

The Internet, along with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and whatever the latest social networking site might be, has fundamentally changed the face of adoption. Like most changes, the effects can be both positive and negative, but regardless of the negatives, the Internet is here to stay, and adoptive parents need to learn how to parent in this environment.

The primary effect that the internet has had on adoptive parenting is the ready availability of information on birth families. This is a challenge for some adoptive families, particularly if your child’s adoption is not open to some degree.

Creating a Family has many other resources to help you navigate the issues presented by the internet at the additional resource icons at the bottom of this page. Here is an example of what you will find:

Handling Social Media & Birth Family Contact with Your Adopted, Foster, or Kinship Kids (article)
Navigating the Internet with Adopted or Foster Tweens and Teens (article)
Helping Parents & Kids Manage Technology (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
Handling Social Media (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)

Creating a Family has many resources for Adoptive Parenting. Here are a few of our most recent resources we think you will find particularly helpful:

Supporting Kids with Prenatal Exposure in the Transition to Adolescence and Beyond (article)
8 Ways to Strengthen Attachment with Your Child (article)
How Can I Help My Child Heal From Trauma? (article)
Protecting our Kids from Sexual Exploitation (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
Adoption Microagressions Parents Need to Know About (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
Suggested Books for Adopted Children (booklists broken down by age level)

Many more Creating a Family interviews with experts, blogs, and fact sheets on adoptive parenting can be found at the icons below.

Additional Resources

Creating a Family Radio Shows on Adoptive Parenting

Creating a Family Blogs on Adoptive Parenting

Creating a Family Factsheets, Tips on Adoptive Parenting