Fielding questions about adoption at school starts early. Is your child ready?
Ask AF: School Records
Answers to your parenting questions.
Ask AF: Privacy About Adoption at School
My child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) mentions the fact that he was adopted. Why would this be included? I asked that it be purged from his record, but the school hasn’t responded.
[BOOK EXCERPT] Everything You Ever Wanted
In this excerpt from her candid, hilarious, inspiring adoption memoir, Jillian Lauren explains how she and her husband addressed their son’s trauma and special needs and turned things around for him at home and at school. Accompanying the excerpt is a Q&A with the author.
Ask AF: Adoption Stigma at School
My daughter took a picture of her birth father to school. She proudly showed it and, when asked where he was, said “prison.” Since then, her best friend’s mother has forbid her daughter from playing with her.
When Kids Face Racism at School
Racial bullying is especially harmful. Here are some strategies to help your child cope and respond to racial teasing.
View the Adoption at School Webinar Replay
View the replay of the webinar “Adoption at School,” with Brooke Randolph, LMHC, to learn about how adoption may come up in your child’s classroom, and how parents can talk to teachers and prepare their child to respond.
“Should I Tell Her Teacher?”
I haven’t decided not to tell my daughter’s preschool that she was adopted, but, so far, I haven’t told.
Share Your Story: Tricky School Assignments
We asked our Reader Panel: Have your school-age children been assigned any projects that were difficult for adoptees (timelines, genetics, etc.)? How did you handle the situation?
Learn How Your Child Learns
When you connect with your child’s learning style, you help him feel more at home.
Big-Kid School
If your child is off to preschool or kindergarten for the first time, you can ease her entry to the wider world outside your home.
“My Most Pressing Back-to-School Task”
After bringing up race and adoption with my children’s teachers at the start of each academic year, I always feel worried and hyper-vigilant. But, invariably, they get it.
Ask AF: Smoothing the Transition to College
We’re worried that our daughter, who had trouble with attachment, might struggle as she goes off to college. How can we support her during this time?
“Adoption 101 in Room 26”
When presenting adoption to 10-year-olds, the teacher’s cooperation and your child’s involvement are key.
Has Adoption Come Up in your Child’s Classroom?
We asked AF readers to share their stories. Here’s what they said!
“Just Like Mrs. Bear”
With the right props and preparation, my adoption presentation to my son’s first-grade class went wonderfully. He was proud to be a part of it, and I was proud of him.
Tackling Tricky Assignments
Creative solutions for tricky school assignments, from bringing in a baby picture to the family tree.
Teaching the Teachers
How one mother set out to educate her town.
Becoming an Advocate at School
There’s nothing like a school’s insensitivity to adoption to turn a quiet mom into a bold activist.
Talking About Adoption in the Classroom
Some parents choose to talk to their child’s teacher about adoption. Others believe it’s a private matter. Here’s how your fellow readers weigh in.