Source: Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 (Copyright © 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics)
A significant number of families adopt children from other countries. If you have made this conscious decision to become a multiracial or multicultural family, there are things you can do to assist your adopted child's adaptation and development.
You have the responsibility as a parent to instill in your child pride and knowledge about his ethnic origins. This will also help give him tools to combat discrimination and stereotyping.
Here are ways you can incorporate his heritage and customs into the family:
- Have multiethnic toys, clothes, objects, artwork, food, and music in your home as a part of daily life.
- Follow news and events and celebrities from his country of origin.
- Visit ethnic restaurants, stores, cultural programs, and exhibits as an ongoing part of family life—not as special events.
- Make adult friends in the ethnic community as an example of how you value your child's origins.
- Select nonadoption, multicultural books to read to your child or to give to him or to the school library.
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