Adoption and Developmental Stages

Children's understanding of adoption differs at different ages. A parent's explanation of a child's adoption will need to be explained more fully as the child grows and learns. In this section, find resources to inform families how to sensitively provide guidance to children at different ages and developmental levels.

Infants

Bonding With Baby at Each Developmental Stage
van Gulden & Bartels-Rabb (2016)
Adoptive Families
Explores behavioral milestones for infants and toddlers. This resource also indicates ways in which adoptive parents can encourage attachment.

Developmental Milestones for Your Adopted Child
Davies (2015)
Rainbow Kids
Focuses on prioritizing the sequence and tempo of developmental milestones over strict timing for adoptive children. This webpage also provides additional resources about early childhood development that help to inform parenting decisions.

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Preschoolers and elementary school

Birth to 5: Growth, Development, and Adoption
Radigan (2017)
Parents
Examines the physical, cognitive, and social effects of adoption on child developmental milestones.

Parenting Your Adopted School-Age Child
Series Title Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
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Year Published 2015
Offers information to help adoptive parents understand and respond to their adopted school-age child's developmental needs. It provides simple, practical strategies to foster healthy development, including approaches for building attachment, talking honestly about adoption, acknowledging the child’s adoptive history, using appropriate discipline, and enhancing the school experience. Because some adoptive families need extra help addressing their children's mental health needs, the factsheet also discusses when and how to seek help.

Stages and Ages in Adoption (PDF - 225 KB)
Riverside Community Care & Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (2014)
Provides a chart comparing typical childhood development from birth to age 18 with typical development in adopted children at the same ages, along with strategies to bridge this divide.

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Adolescents and young adults

Adolescents and Adoption (PDF - 670 KB)
Singer & Riley (2016)
Center for Adoption Support and Education
Explains why adolescence can be a particularly turbulent time for adopted teenagers and goes over the ways in which parents can support their children during this time period.

Adolescent Development
Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Explores how adolescents change and develop as well as the issues they may face as they mature. This webpage includes sections on healthy relationships, mental health, physical and reproductive health, and substance use.

The Impact of Trauma on Child Development: The New Arrival Is Younger Than Anticipated – Discussion [Video]
Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio (2013)
Explores how past trauma can impact the development of children who have been adopted, including the impact on cause-and-effect thinking that leads to delays in problem-solving skills, moral development, and social skills.

Parenting Your Adopted Teenager
Series Title Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability View
Download (PDF - 333KB)
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Year Published 2015
Offers information to help adoptive parents understand their adopted teenager’s experiences and needs so parents can respond with practical strategies that foster healthy development. These strategies include approaches that acknowledge trauma and loss, support effective communication, promote a teen’s independence, and address behavioral and mental health concerns.

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