In many ways, parenting adopted children is like parenting children by birth – you love, teach, worry, and set limits. You find joy in their accomplishments and nurture their skills. You support them through challenges and teach them how to cope with failures. That’s what parents do.

However, parenting your adopted child has a few additional layers or unique issues about which you should be aware. Adopted children impacted by trauma or loss may require intentional parenting styles that focus on building trust and attachment. Raising an adopted child of another race or culture means attention to healthy racial identity development. Parenting a child in an open adoption relationship will mean learning how to navigate dynamics between you that keep your child’s interests at heart.

No matter your child’s age at adoption, it is crucial to remember that they likely had at least a few challenging experiences before joining your family. Understanding the impacts of those challenges and addressing their behaviors with compassion and intention will help you forge the connections between you, which will help them heal. By educating yourself and the other members of your family about the unique issues of parenting adopted children, you are setting your family up to thrive together as an adoptive family.