Adopting Older Children

Where to start:

• Check out the following Creating a Family radio shows:

  • October 5, 2011: Preparing Yourself and Your Children to Adopt an Older Child

  • May 3, 2011: Conversation with Melissa Fay Greene: No Biking in the House

  • March 25, 2009: Adopting the Older Child

  • April 29, 2009: Fostering and Adopting Children in Foster Care

  • July 22, 2009: Parenting the Adopted Adolescent

  • October 14, 2009: Creating Attachment with Adopted Kids through Lifebooks

  • December 17, 2008: Attachment Issues when you Adopt a Child Over Two

  • November 26, 2008: How Children Process Adoption at Different Ages

  • September 3, 2008: The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family

  • May 14, 2008: Adopting from Foster Care

  • February 13, 2008: Parenting the Hurt Child/ Attachment 101

  • January 23, 2008: Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft
    

  • November 14, 2007: An Interview with Deborah Gray, author of "Attaching in Adoption"

• Other Creating a Family resources:

  • Creating a Family blog on The New Normal-Life Once the Adoption Excitement Fades

• Videos on adopting older children:

  • News report on CBS Early Show.  Families that adopted older kids from foster care are interviewed.  

 Articles & General Information:

• After the Airport by Jen Hatmaker. Powerful, visceral, honest account of what life is really like 2 months home with a 5 and 7 year old from Ethiopia.  Also, amazingly inspirational. This is a must read!
• Laughter, Attachment and Adopting Older Kids by Pat O'Brien.  I practically wanted to shout “YES” when I read this article. I agree with everything O’Brien said, especially the part about incorporating fun and laughter into your parenting routine when you adopt an older child.
• Adopting Older Children by Ellen Singer.  I love everything by The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) and this article from their wonderful monthly newsletter is one of their best.

• Older Child Adoption- Articles and resources to guide you.

• www.olderchildadoption.com. Great web site with lots of articles on older-child adoption written by a mom who adopted an older child.
• AOK-China-2 (Adopt Older Kids from China-2) at www.groups.yahoo.com. For parents considering or adopting a child over three from China.
• An Adoption, Six Months Later is a New York Times article about a family that adopted an older special needs child from China. While not diminishing the rough adjustments that can accompany adopting an older child, it’s worth celebrating that some adjustments are smooth and effortless.
  
• Parenting Your Adopted School-age Child is a fact sheet to help adoptive parents understand and respond to their school-age child's developmental needs.
• Prayers and Casseroles - things you need to know/have/get to survive the first six months of a multiple child adoption is a great handout prepared by a family that has been there and done that.  They provide useful information for parents adopting older children and multiple children at one time.
• A good introduction to Older Infant and Toddler Adoption

Books:

• Nurturing Adoptions - Creating Resilience after Neglect and Trauma by Deborah Gray.  Anything by Deborah Gray is great.  On our show she said this book was primarily written for adoption professionals, but I think adoptive parents will find a lot of useful information as well.
• The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family by Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine
• Parenting Your Older Adopted Child By Brenda McCreight.  Good overview!
• Our Own - Adopting and Parenting the Older Child By Trish Maskew.  Another book in the been there, done that vein. This one’s a keeper.
• Adopting the Older Child by Claudia L. Jewett
• Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison--I loved this book.  It is the true life tale of one foster family and is very well written. I couldn’t put it down.
• Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best. Great information.
• Adopting a Toddler: What Size Shoes Does She Wear? by Denise Harris Hoppenhauer.  Offers great insight and practical advice for those preparing to adopt a toddler.