| Older child adoption can often be more complex and | | | | being able to fit in with the family, not being able to |
| come with more risks than adoption of an infant. In | | | | make friends at their new school, etc. By giving the |
| this article we look at some older child adoption | | | | older child a say in the adoption process, giving them |
| outcomes and how possible negative situations can | | | | the information they require about the new situation |
| be resolved or prevented. The first problem with | | | | and helping them come to terms with new social and |
| older child adoption is that older children need to be | | | | cultural expectations can go a long way in improving |
| better prepared for adoption. They may not want to | | | | older child adoption outcomes. For more info see on |
| be adopted, they may feel rejection from their | | | | infant adoption Another issue that concerns many |
| birthparents, and they may come with a lot of other | | | | older children who are adopted is what will become |
| emotional baggage that prevents them bonding with | | | | of their relationships with their biological family, |
| their adoptive parents. It is also often more difficult | | | | including relationships with grandparents, siblings and |
| for an adoptive parent to bond with an older child. | | | | other family members. It is important that the |
| The more an older child can be involved in deciding | | | | adoptive parents let them know what they feel |
| who their adoptive parents will be the better the | | | | about these issues and where ever possible give |
| chances are of having positive outcomes in the end. | | | | them the chance to maintain these relationships which |
| If they feel like they have had a say in the decision | | | | are already important to them, as dissolving them |
| then they will be more likely to co-operate with the | | | | may cause more conflict between the adoptive |
| decision. A lot of adoptive parents who adopted an | | | | parents and child. Older child adoption may be more |
| older child have also experienced behavior problems | | | | difficult and many parents may worry about older |
| with the child. For some adoptive parents who have | | | | child adoption outcomes, but if the older child is given |
| opted for older child adoption these behavior | | | | a say in the adoption process and given as much |
| problems have only come much later after the | | | | information as possible about the process, the home |
| adoption, while others experience behavior problems | | | | they will live in, the school they will go to and any |
| almost from the beginning. These behavioral problems | | | | other information regarding the social and cultural |
| may stem from the difficulty in adjusting to a new | | | | expectations then the outcomes may be very |
| family member, dealing with emotional issues or | | | | positive for all involved. |
| adjusting to adolescence (similar problems to what | | | | See more information on baby adoption and adoption |
| many birthparents of adolescents experience). Older | | | | photo listing.ChildAdoptionGuide.org is a |
| children are also more sensitive to social and cultural | | | | comprehensive resource to help couples with the |
| expectations and so older child adoption may make | | | | adoption process. |
| them feel concerned about feeling out of place, not | | | | |