Parenting an Adopted Child

The road to an adoption placement can be long and emotional — but for adoptive parents, this is actually just the beginning. While the basic needs for a safe, loving family and home environment are the same for every child, adopted or not, your child’s adoption story may continue to impact your parenting in a number of ways.

Adoption will continue to shape your family’s life as you experience all of the unique benefits and challenges of parenting an adopted child.

This section addresses common challenges facing adopted children and the things their parents can do to help. Find helpful information about telling your child his or her adoption story in an age-appropriate way, and consider some of the unique issues that impact adoptive families, such as blending adopted and biological children, managing birth parent relationships, addressing cultural identity and responding to negative adoption comments.