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