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