Protecting our Children From Sexual Predators!

This article outlines how to protect your children from predators who engage in "grooming," which refers to deliberate actions aimed at befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child. Check it out here to learn how to protect your child.

Is It Really Possible to Love an Adopted Child as Much as a Biological Child?

Check out this article on the Creating a Family blog about loving an adopted child as much as a biological child.

Overuse of Psychiatric Drugs for US Foster Children

ABC News has conducted a study regarding the use of psychiatric drugs for children in the US foster care system. In the five states that they studied they found that more than one-fourth of foster children were prescribed at least one psychiatric drug. Foster children were also more than nine times more likely than non-foster children to be prescribed drugs for which there was no FDA-recommended dose for their age. Check out the article here for more information on this study.

Talking Matters

Here is another article regarding talking to your child about adoption. It covers the importance of talking about adoption, when to talk about it, how to start the conversation, and many other tips. Check it out here!

Adoptive Families' 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?? Adoptive Families magazine has complied a list of online stores that sell adoption memorabilia including Lifebooks, jewelry, children's books and a whole host of other gifts. Check out the link here and find some great holiday gift ideas for the adoptive families in your life!

Keeping the Peace

Holidays can be extremely stressful for every one of us! They can be especially challenging for many adopted children due to difficulties with emotional regulation. Check out this article for advice on how to minimize meltdowns and stress for your child this holiday season.

Surviving a Winding Road

The process of adoption is full of ups and downs and has its fair share of challenges. This article discusses how to survive the long process of becoming an adoptive parent. Check it out here.

Labeling Kids - How Much To Share And With Whom

Adoptive and foster parents are often faced with the question, "how much of my child's story do I share and with whom?" It's a hard question that is going to vary from child to child. Dawn at Creating a Family has some interesting insight regarding how much to share. Check out her story here and some additional insight here. What do you think? What has your experience been with sharing your child's story?

National Adoption Month!!

November is National Adoption Month!! Give an adoptive parent a hug today! :)

Laughter, Bonding and Adopting Older Children

Here is an excerpt from an article by Pat O'Brien about bonding with the older adopted child:

"Young people simply assume at placement that it is a matter of time before they will be rejected yet again and ultimately kicked out of this new household. The newly placed youth usually proceeds cautiously to protect him or herself from the expected rejection he or she believes will occur soon by staying somewhat detached from the new family and by resisting getting close to the new family.

How can adoptive parents of teens and pre-teens prove they are worth bonding to? Well, having been involved in nearly a thousand placements of children during my 20-year career I can think of no better answer than shared laughter."

To learn more about how laughter can help with attachment and bonding, check out the article here.