| • | Where did I come from? As children move from toddlerhood to pre-school, they're increasingly more aware of themselves and others. Discover how to introduce the topic of adoption to your child. $3.00 |
| | • | Why was I adopted? It is generally during this time period that children begin to understand what adoption really means. Most come to grips with the knowledge that to “become adopted” they first had to lose significant people in their lives. Find out how you can help your child during this period. $3.00 |
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| • | Many parents dread the onset of the teen years because they are typically associated with negativity, turbulence and change. Find out why (and how) being adopted adds an extra layer of pressures for adolescents – and what you can do. $3.00 |
| | • | It's the rare adoptive parent who doesn’t experience some level of anxiety about discussing adoption with their child; however, adult adoptees recommend parents practice honest, open, receptive communication with children. Find out how to begin. $3.00 |
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| • | When difficult information (drugs, alcohol, crime, abuse, unknown birth father, siblings, etc.) is part of a child’s adoption story adoptive parents first instinct is to protect and shield. Children have the right to know their information – find out how to share it openly and with love. $3.00 |
| | • | Teens have two major tasks: Identity formation and separation from parents. Adopted teens must also come to terms with thoughts, feelings and knowledge they have about their birth parents - people they might not know. You can be your teen's source of guidance through this complex process $3.00 |
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| • | As school-aged children try to make sense of adoption, friends and classmates are also trying to understand. Many will ask lots of questions! Discover how you can help your child anticipate and prepare. $3.00 |
| | • | Because society values biological parenting as the preferred, normal way to build a family, adoptive parents can find themselves wondering if they are “second best.” Building a sense of entitlement is good for adoptive families - discover how to get started. $3.00 |
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| • | Research indicates that it's normal for kids and teens to have a wide variety of thoughts and feelings about being adopted. Discover steps you can take to help your school promote an adoption-sensitive environment that benefits ALL students. $3.00 |
| | • | All parents strive to recognize when their child is experiencing difficulty. Adoptive parents must also be good detectives at figuring out when signals indicate their child is struggling with an adoption issue. Do you know what behavior signals require attention and why? $3.00 |
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| • | Talking with children about sex causes some level of discomfort (when, what, how) for all parents. For adoptive parents, there's an additional layer of anxiety, because adoption and sexuality are always intertwined. Discover tips to communicating more comfortably. $3.00 |
| | • | Families with biological and adopted children are often referred to as “blended families.” In addition to the normal set of questions all adoptive parents have, parents in these families have additional concerns about sibling relationships, particularly when it comes to each child’s perception of his or her “place” in the family. Find out how to diminish comparisons and promote individual strengths. $3.00 |
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| • | Heritage is the legacy given to us through biological roots. For adopted children who don't share genes or ancestry with their parents, the birth country serves as birth mother in abstentia, and can trigger a range of emotions: pride, anger, love, hate, fantasy, and fear. There is much to consider before making birth country connections. Our questionnaire explores your family’s readiness. $3.00 |
| | • | It’s not as simple as “open” or “closed.” Time can change a parent’s perspective about contact with siblings and birth families. And while traditional, closed adoption is still practiced, many find that the opportunity to re-open relationships becomes available over time. $3.00 |
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| • | Just as adoptive parents must broadened their understanding about adoption, so too must extended family members. Besides all the normal questions, they need information to help them understand the adoption process, privacy concerns, sensitivity issues, adoption-sensitive language and more. Find out where to start. $3.00 |
| | • | People adopt children for a variety of reasons. While the decision to adopt comes easily to some couples, most people do not experience this as an easy decision. The decision-making process is always heartfelt and, for some can be quite difficult, emotionally challenging and involve quite a bit of "soul searching." $3.00 |
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