Older Child Adoption Outcomes

Older child adoption can often be more complex andOlder children are also more sensitive to social and
come with more risks than adoption of an infant. Incultural expectations and so older child adoption may
this article we look at some older child adoptionmake them feel concerned about feeling out of
outcomes and how possible negative situations canplace, not being able to fit in with the family, not
be resolved or prevented.being able to make friends at their new school, etc.
The first problem with older child adoption is thatBy giving the older child a say in the adoption
older children need to be better prepared forprocess, giving them the information they require
adoption. They may not want to be adopted, theyabout the new situation and helping them come to
may feel rejection from their birthparents, and theyterms with new social and cultural expectations can
may come with a lot of other emotional baggagego a long way in improving older child adoption
that prevents them bonding with their adoptiveoutcomes. For more info see on infant adoption
parents. It is also often more difficult for an adoptiveAnother issue that concerns many older children who
parent to bond with an older child. The more an olderare adopted is what will become of their relationships
child can be involved in deciding who their adoptivewith their biological family, including relationships with
parents will be the better the chances are of havinggrandparents, siblings and other family members. It is
positive outcomes in the end. If they feel like theyimportant that the adoptive parents let them know
have had a say in the decision then they will be morewhat they feel about these issues and where ever
likely to co-operate with the decision.possible give them the chance to maintain these
A lot of adoptive parents who adopted an older childrelationships which are already important to them, as
have also experienced behavior problems with thedissolving them may cause more conflict between
child. For some adoptive parents who have opted forthe adoptive parents and child.
older child adoption these behavior problems haveOlder child adoption may be more difficult and many
only come much later after the adoption, whileparents may worry about older child adoption
others experience behavior problems almost fromoutcomes, but if the older child is given a say in the
the beginning. These behavioral problems may stemadoption process and given as much information as
from the difficulty in adjusting to a new familypossible about the process, the home they will live in,
member, dealing with emotional issues or adjusting tothe school they will go to and any other information
adolescence (similar problems to what manyregarding the social and cultural expectations then the
birthparents of adolescents experience).outcomes may be very positive for all involved.