General adoption wisdom is that it is
best not to adopt out of birth order or to create
artificial twins through adoption. What are the
realities of these decisions? Is it always a bad idea? Our guests
were Dr. Anne Brodzinsky, psychologist and co-author of
Children's Adjustment to Adoption, and Dr. Martha Henry,
Director of the Office for Foster Care and Adoption at the
University of Massachusetts Medical School and co-author of
Adoption in the United States: A Reference for Families,
Professionals, and Students.
Why is the practice of adopting out of birth order discouraged
by many adoption professionals?
How does this position affect the adoption of older
children?
Does it matter which child is being displaced—eldest?
Youngest?
How to handle the situation where the newly adopted child is
now the eldest, but not as mature as the child that was the
displaced as the eldest?
How to tie responsibility to maturity not age.
Should we talk with existing children to see their position on
the adoption?
How to handle a newly adopted eldest child that wants to be in
control and boss the other children.
Practical suggestions for parents who adopt out of birth
order.
Is it a bad idea to adopt two children close in age?
What is meant by virtual twins.
Does it matter if the children that are adopted at are the same
age are of a different gender.
How do you explain to the rest of the world why you have two
children who are the same but not twins?
Practical parenting tips for parents that have artificial
twins.
