Older Child Adoption

Help the child heal through shared laughter.

Families created through older children adoption have to remember that there are memories (many not so good) that a child has to overcome. Help your child focus on the positive memories.
For my family, it means taking time each evening before and talking about three good and happy things that happened that day. We also started a "2008 Joy Journal". I am taking time to look at something positive that my children did and writing it down. When I have a 'down day', I can pick up my book and giggle or grin at the antics of my little children and older children. Adoption has so many rewards but there are challenges too..sometime we have to be creative to overcome them!

Here's an excerpt from an wonderful article.


"EIGHT CONCRETE IDEAS TO GENERATE MORE LAUGHTER INTO YOUR HOME LIFE WITH TEENS AND TWEENS"
Below are some suggestions of some great silly ideas you might want to do with to help the bonding of your older child adoption and to bring laughter in your household.
Many of these ideas have been taken from Vicki Lansky's book "101 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special. "

  • 1. Take your child to the local magic store. Buy some magic tricks and teach your child how to do the tricks. Kids love to be able to trick other people. It is empowering for children to possess some knowledge that other people do not have. Kids love to play and the magic tricks generate their playful side. When they grow up they will always be able to recall fondly the parent who took them on a trip to the local magic store and bought them the tricks that allowed them to fascinate, and perhaps even make other people laugh.

  • 2. Let your child plan an un-birthday party allowing him or her to invite a group of friends and family members. This is a silly idea that all the other kids invited to the party will enjoy and remember your child for. That, in turn, will create a memory that your child will remember you for.

  • 3. Send your child a funny greeting card by mail. You can make it, or you can buy one especially designed for kids. Kids love to receive mail. And if the mail is funny it creates another bonding experience your child will remember you for.
  • 4. Order a copy of a newspaper that was published on your child's birthday the next time you see one advertised in a catalogue or magazine. Give it as a special birthday gift. This sends your newly placed teen or pre-teen child the message that his or her birthday is an important day in your life because he or she was born on that day.

  • 5. Funny face photos. Remember those photo booths in airports, shopping malls and amusement parks? Next time you and your youngster pass one together invest in some funny-face photos of the two of you together. They will be treasured for a long time.

  • 6. Comic strip or cartoon relevant to your child. When you find a comic strip or cartoon that is relevant to your child in some way, photocopy it with a cut-out picture of your child's head placed over the favorite comic character's head.

  • 7. Teach your child a few simple riddles or jokes to tell friends so that she or he can get a good laugh. Creating a laugh gives kids a powerful and wonderful feeling. You can easily find good, clean children's jokes on the Internet. Otherwise, try to remember the jokes you found funny as a child and teach them to your youngster.

  • 8. Design one special frame for a permanent, prominent display of a current yearly photo of your child. Keep putting the new one on top of the old one and let the frame serve as storage for those pictures of past years.
    • Back to Adoption Options from Older Child Adoption
    Growing Up Adopted. Part 1.
    Adopting siblings. Things to Consider.


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