Talking About Adoption

It can be difficult for parents to find the words to talk about adoption with their children and others. Adoptees may not know how to respond to questions from classmates or strangers. Find resources in this section to help families and adopted people talk about adoption.

Positive Adoption Conversations: An Adoptive Families Guide (PDF - 2,320 KB)
Adoptive Families (2015)
Connects with articles highlighting a variety of topics related to postadoption conversations, including discussing adoption with friends and family and explaining adoption at school.

Respectful Ways to Talk About Adoption: A List of Do’s & Dont’s
Healthychildren.org (2017)
Explains specific ways to frame adoption discussions, including language about birth parents choosing not to parent and the adopted child’s country or family of origin.

Talking About Adoption Part 1: Talking With 0–5 Year Olds
Creating a Family (2015)
Provides age-specific talking points to equip parents to talk to their adoptive child.

Talking To Your Child About Adoption: Recommendations for Parents (PDF - 388 KB)
Callahan (2011)
Adoption Advocate, 42
Explains the importance of parents’ initiating the conversation about adoption with their adoptive child. This resource also explains the ways in which adoption conversations will change as the child grows and develops.

Talking With Kids About Adoption
Creating a Family
Provides interviews with adoption professionals, blogs, and suggested books on how parents can discuss adoption with their children in a manner that is developmentally appropriate.

Talking With Kids About Adoption
Diamond
Parents.com
Focuses on driving, age-specific questions that adoptive children may have throughout childhood and ways in which parents can respond appropriately to these questions.

Talking With Your Children About Adoption C.A.S.E. Fact Sheet Series
Singer (2015)
Center for Adoption Support and Education
Highlights topics that parents will likely need to address with adoptive children, including introducing the concept of adoption and discussing difficult information through a three-part factsheet.