Having helped raise 13 children during the course of his life,
helping to raise them all into healthy and happy adults, Doug McClain
feels he is well placed to offer advice to other people who are
considering adoption. It can be a fairly scary prospect, especially if
you have never adopted before, so the following tips should help you
make you adopted child feel like part of the family.
Find Out What They Are Used To
Depending on the age of the child being adopted, they may already have set routines or an established way of life that they are fairly comfortable with. Breaking this routine entirely may lead to confusion and anger, so try to discover the things they enjoyed in their previous household and focus your care on that while also bringing whatever else you can to the table.
Always Be Available To Talk
Eventually you are going to have to tell your child they are adopted, which is a difficult period in the relationship no matter how well it is handled. It is important to remember that the aftercare period is just as important as you will need to be able to help your adopted child deal with the confusion, anger and potential feeling of abandonment they may be feeling following the revelation. Make it clear to your child that you are always available if they need somebody to talk to about anything.
Be Patient
If you are adopting an older child, you are often going to find that they have difficulty adjusting, no matter how well you try to emulate aspects of their previous life. Doug McClain points out that it occasionally takes time to form a loving relationship with your new child, so exercise patience and do what you can to make the transition as simple as possible.
Find Out What They Are Used To
Depending on the age of the child being adopted, they may already have set routines or an established way of life that they are fairly comfortable with. Breaking this routine entirely may lead to confusion and anger, so try to discover the things they enjoyed in their previous household and focus your care on that while also bringing whatever else you can to the table.
Always Be Available To Talk
Eventually you are going to have to tell your child they are adopted, which is a difficult period in the relationship no matter how well it is handled. It is important to remember that the aftercare period is just as important as you will need to be able to help your adopted child deal with the confusion, anger and potential feeling of abandonment they may be feeling following the revelation. Make it clear to your child that you are always available if they need somebody to talk to about anything.
Be Patient
If you are adopting an older child, you are often going to find that they have difficulty adjusting, no matter how well you try to emulate aspects of their previous life. Doug McClain points out that it occasionally takes time to form a loving relationship with your new child, so exercise patience and do what you can to make the transition as simple as possible.
