Home > Parenting Adopted Children

These sites offer tips for parents of adoption children and some of the issues they can expect to face. Identity formation, fear of abandonment, issues of control, feelings of not belonging, and desires to connect with birth families are described.

Links

• Adoptive Parent Support Groups

  Adoptive Parent Support Groups from the Adoption Guide.

• Adoptive Parents Committee

  The Adoptive Parents Committee (APC) is a non-profit parent support group comprised of volunteers dedicated to improving all aspects of adoption and interim (foster) care.

• National Adoption Center's Learning Center

  The National Adoption Center's Learning Center offers a variety of online adoption chats, education, information and support services. Join TLCs weekly moderated adoption chats, interact with adoptive families and professionals through the Message Board.

• Parenting Your Adopted Preschooler

  Parenting an adopted preschooler is very similar to parenting any preschooler. As parents, you should not ignore the fact that your child is adopted or their experiences prior to the adoption. But you need not worry unnecessarily about these issues, either.

• Parenting Your Adopted School-Age Child

  This factsheet is designed to help you understand and respond to your adopted school-age child's developmental needs. It provides simple, practical strategies you can use to foster healthy development, including approaches for building attachment, talking honestly with your child about adoption, acknowledging his or her adoptive history, using appropriate discipline, and enhancing your child's school experience. Because some adoptive families will need extra help addressing their children's mental health needs, the factsheet also discusses when and how to seek help.

• Parenting Your Adopted Teenager

  This fact sheet explores the effect of adoption on adolescent development and behavior. Identity formation, fear of abandonment, issues of control, feelings of not belonging, and desires to connect with birth families are described. A list of training programs and materials is attached to the factsheet.

• TAPLINK

  Together as Adoptive Parents Inc., TAPLINK, is dedicated to providing support to adoptive, foster and kinship families in Pennsylvania.