How to Decide to Adopt an Older Child

There are many older children in the US and other countries who are waiting for a family to adopt them. Adopting an older child has its special challenges, but it also can be very rewarding. Decide if you should adopt an older child by considering the following information.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Begin by researching older child adoption. Learn about the adoption requirements of the country or state that you're considering and the children who need homes.
2. Become familiar with the struggles that many older children have because of their experiences either in foster care or overseas orphanages. These children often have more to overcome because of what they have been through in their early years.
3. Realize that a child's experiences in care will have affected him, but know that these children still have great potential and often do very well when they experience the love and structure of a family.
4. Decide what types of special needs you are open to, since many older children may have emotional or behavioral issues that will make raising them more challenging.
5. Get to know other families who have adopted older children. Meet their kids and learn about how to help an older adopted child transition into her new home.
6. Evaluate yourself as a potential parent of an older adopted child. Those who do best with this type of adoption are flexible but consistent, ready to rejoice in small progresses and prepared to walk alongside their child to help him be successful.

Tips & Warnings

• Typically, children ages five and above are considered "older." However, different agencies or countries may have their own descriptions.
• Older adopted children often have more challenges than adopted babies or toddlers, so be sure that you fully research these challenges and make sure that you're ready for the challenge.
• Older adopted children have the benefit of remembering their family and their life before adoption. This can help greatly in the teen years when they begin to question who they are and where they came from.
• Many older children will do best in a family in which they are the youngest. There are exceptions, but it's important to talk to your social worker about the specific child you're adopting if you have younger children your home.