e-mail
Here is an excellent resource on helping your child to manage school issues related to adoption.
Last week I published a post about the different approaches that my two daughters take to managing their adoption story with classmates and teachers. With this still being on my mind I began to do some research and I came across the aforementioned article.
I am particularly drawn to informational articles that present a developmental perspective across the lifespan and that is what the article provides. Everyone who follows any of my blogging knows that I emphasize a resiliency perspective and that I advocate for parents to act as the experts on their children. Well, I knew I had hit upon a real winner when I read this line regarding learning issues among adopted children:
Your job as a conscientious parent is to know your child well enough to get a realistic picture of his potential, interests, and motivation for performing in school. You are the one most able to note patterns and changes in your child’s behavior. Then it is your responsibility to communicate with the school if you think some type of intervention may be necessary. Consult experts. Consult other parents. Ultimately, however, you must rely on your own instincts as to what is best for your child
I love that! In terms of more general concerns the article directly addresses a question that I believe is universal among adoptive parents:
Like all children, adopted children spend a good portion of their waking hours in school. Because school is such an important aspect of children’s lives, adoptive parents, like all parents, want their child’s school experience to be a positive one. When your child has a problem at school, you might find yourself wondering: Is this a problem related to adoption, or is it a “generic” developmental, educational, or school system problem common to all children?
The discussion centers around how adoption affects children at school at different phases of development: preschool/kindergarten age chldren, elementary age, and middle school/high school age children. Personally, I believe there should have been a demarcation between the middle school and high school age child discussion, but the information provided is still excellent.
Specific topics that are also addressed thoroughly include school related issues involving children adopted through the foster care system, special needs adopted children and adopted children with learning challenges.
Finally, there are points that are shared about adoption sensitivity among school personnel and some advice on specific dos and donts regarding positive adoption language and discussing adoption in general.
It is very seldom that you will catch me raving about parenting advice from so-called experts, but this is an instance in which I am raving. This is one article that I did not just skim through. I read it all in its entirety and will read again several more times I am sure. It’s a keeper.
