| We all hear about baby showers for expecting | | | | parents are adopting an older child, make sure your |
| parents, but what about for adopting parents? An | | | | games reflect that as well. One great adoption party |
| adoption baby shower is more than acceptable - it's | | | | activity is to organize a Welcome Book for the new |
| encouraged! Adopting parents have the same needs | | | | child. Ask guests to bring pictures of themselves and |
| as any other new parents would, but with a few | | | | their families to assemble into a scrapbook page they |
| minor considerations.You should steer clear of planning | | | | will create at the shower.All of your shower |
| a surprise celebration on the day the family brings | | | | decorations will naturally depend on the style, theme, |
| their child home. This can be a very emotional time - | | | | and number of people attending. Balloons and |
| the new parents and child (especially if the child is | | | | streamers are standard, but there are a lot of |
| older) will need a period of adjustment. It is very | | | | creative and fun ideas to make the party |
| important to be sensitive to their needs. In this case, | | | | extra-special. You're truly only limited by your |
| delivering care packages and planning your celebration | | | | imagination here.If the adoption is an international one, |
| for a later date would be acceptable and appreciated. | | | | you could use decorations that reflect the child's |
| Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out | | | | place of birth, and include recipes from his or her |
| what their wants and needs are before you set a | | | | home country. For guests, it will be a learning |
| shower date.Your shower invitations should be sent | | | | experience. |
| out three to four weeks in advance, and should | | | | As with decorations, party favors should match your |
| include the time, date, and location of the shower. | | | | shower theme and party size. Your favors can be |
| Don't forget to set an RSVP date with your | | | | used as place settings, prizes, or they can be handed |
| telephone number and address. If it is at all possible, | | | | out at the end of the party. A very popular idea for |
| include the child's birth date, as well as when he or | | | | adoption showers is a special program for guests to |
| she was officially adopted or welcomed into the | | | | keep. Written inside should be commitments to the |
| home of his or her new parents. This will help your | | | | child from his or her new parents, poems about love, |
| guests to pick age appropriate gifts. In the case of | | | | family, and adoption, and prayers for the future. |
| foreign adoptions, you could also add information | | | | When labeling your favor, keep in mind that your |
| about the birth country to inform your guests.As | | | | party is, again, in honor of an adoption, not a birth. |
| with other baby showers, the theme for an adoption | | | | Your wording on gift tags should reflect |
| baby shower should be the same. However, if the | | | | that.Adoption is a very exciting time for the new |
| child that was adopted is older, you should tailor your | | | | parents. A baby shower or welcome party allows |
| party to suit their age and favorite things. For | | | | friends and family members to share in on the |
| example, a small girl might love everything that | | | | family's joy. When you host or even attend such a |
| involves the Disney princesses and may go absolutely | | | | party, it is very important to know the needs and |
| crazy over the color pink. In turn, an older boy may | | | | wants of the parents. Be sure to know ahead of |
| be fascinated by soccer and anything green. Don't be | | | | time how old the child is. Find out if the parents have |
| afraid to be a little creative to help make the party a | | | | registered anywhere. Parents who are adopting |
| special celebration to welcome the new child into | | | | should be reminded that they can actually register for |
| your circle of family and friends!Baby shower games | | | | older children as well as newborns.By planning and |
| are important too! However, stay away from games | | | | hosting an adoption party, you are helping the new |
| that are maternity-related. It's very important that | | | | family formalize the acceptance of their child into |
| you keep in mind that you are celebrating the gift of | | | | their circle. You will be creating an occasion that will |
| adoption. Your games help set the tone of the party, | | | | be documented for the child to look at in the future |
| and should be mixed in with any other activity going | | | | and remind them how much they were welcomed |
| on. An average shower lasts about two hours, so | | | | and loved from the start. |
| look at playing two to three party games. If the new | | | | |