How to ease your child’s entry to the wider world outside your home.
When Your Child Acts Like a Baby
Some children regress as a way of escaping to a less stressful time.
Is College Possible?
It’s not uncommon for a child to have different interests — and academic skills — than his achieving parents.
Imaginary Birth Parents
Your child may never have met his first mom and dad. But that doesn’t mean he’s not spinning stories about them.
Is Your Child Ready for School?
She has her backpack, pencils, and notebook. But does she know how to field adoption questions that might come her way?
Embracing Your Child’s Personality
Six- to eight-year-olds begin to take on individual personalities — often different from those of their parents.
A Letter to Your Child’s Teacher
Even a teacher sensitive to adoption may benefit from having words to say.
When Your Child Stops Talking About Adoption
Has your grade-schooler suddenly gone silent on adoption? Here’s how to keep the conversation going.
Sticky Assignments
From requests for baby pictures to making family trees, adopted kids face challenges in the classroom. Here’s how to help.
As Friendships Evolve
Sometimes growing up means letting go of childhood friends.
Ask AF: What’s the Big Secret?
My 8-year-old has always seemed comfortable about adoption. Recently, though, he’s been telling classmates that he was adopted, but asking them to keep it secret. Should I be worried?
Ask AF: A New Line of Questioning
Recently, my 7-year-old has been asking me rather vague questions, such as, “Where am I?” or “Where do I belong?” I don’t want to attribute every element of his development to adoption — but could that be behind these questions?
Ask AF: An Invasive Assignment
An adoptive parent asks how to react to her middle schooler’s assignment to write a report about his birth. Adoption at school expert Lansing Wood offers guidance on speaking with the teacher.
The Good and Bad of Being “Chosen”
How to make sure your child feels good about being adopted.
The Fantasy Parent
Ever heard, “My real mother wouldn’t make me do that”? Don’t despair. All kids, adopted or not, conjure a fantasy parent from time to time.
Mommy, What’s Donor Insemination?
How to answer this and other questions about how families are formed.