Adopting Children from Other Countries

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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