Making Sense of Adoption电子书

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Contents

1 - A Few Words for Parents

Who Needs this Book

The Rights of Adopted Children

Parents’ Attitudes Toward Discussing Adoption

What Children Want to Know and Can Understand About Adoption

How to Use this Book

Activity: Getting Ready

2 - “How Do We Begin?”

Infants and Toddlers, Family and Friends

Starting Early

An Adoption Vocabulary

Beginning the Adoption Story

Balancing Discussion of Adoption

Talking to Others About Adoption

Nonadopted Children and Siblings

Introducing the Child’s Heritage

The Minority Family

Activity: Making an Adoption Story Book

3 - “Where Did I Come From?”

The Preschool Years

Talking About Where Babies Come From

Discussing Birth

Growing Understanding of Adoption

Feelings About Adoption

Tuning in to Adoption Messages

Racial Awareness and Attitudes

Awareness of Nationality

Establishing Ties with Extended Family

Activity: Getting to Know the Extended Family

4 - “Why Didn’t They Keep Me?”

The Middle Childhood Years

Limits to Children’s Understanding

Understanding the Birthmother

Understanding the Birthfather

Explaining Difficult Situations

Answering Other Questions About Adoption

Open Adoptions

Grieving for the Losses in Adoption

Feelings of Insecurity

Feelings of Inferiority

Groups for Children in Middle Childhood

Activity: Making a Lifebook

5 - “What Does Being Adopted Say About Me?”

The Middle Childhood Years

The Child in the Family

The Adopted Child in the World

Racial and Ethnic Awareness

Talking with School Personnel

Activity: Making a Family Tree

6 - “Who Am I?”

Adolescence

Developing a Factual Basis for Identity

Building a Physical Identity

Personality, Abilities, and Interests

Developing Individual Values and Beliefs

Developing a Family Identity

Developing a Racial or Ethnic Identity

Assuming the Birthparents’ Identity

Becoming Independent

Emotional Reactions to Adoption in Adolescence

Conflict in Adoptive Families During Adolescence

Activity: Joining an Adoption Group

7 - “I Want to Meet My Birthparents”

Adolescence

The Desire to Meet the Birthparents

Open Adoptions

Disadvantages of Reunions in Adolescence

Feelings of Adoptive Parents

Planning a Reunion

Moving in with the Birthparent

When Birthparents Initiate a Meeting

A Final Note

Activity: Reading About Search and Reunion

8 - “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?”

The Harm of Secrecy

Revealing the Adoption

Understanding the Importance of Honesty

Emotional Reactions to Revealing the Secret

Telling the Story

Appendix A: “Do We Need More Help?”

Appendix B: Bibliography of Children’s Books

Index to Bibliography of Children’s Books

Sources

Index

Acknowledgments

Praise for Making Sense of Adoption

Copyright

About the Publisher