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Information Days for Family and Friends
This informal but informative day looks at the role of grandparents and the extended family, many of whom play a pivotal role in the lives of children adopted from overseas. Click for an Information Day leaflet.
Most prospective family members assume that children will arrive in the family following pregnancy and birth, and it can come as a surprise and a shock to learn that a grandchild or niece or nephew may be joining the family through adoption.
From our experience at IAC we are aware that the extended family may have questions and sometimes worries about an adoption from overseas. For people outside the world of adoption the thought of bringing a child from a distant country to join a family in the UK can seem frightening and daunting; these concerns are often added to by ill informed media reports.
The day aims to offer information about intercountry adoption and the joys and challenges to come. It provides a forum for prospective grandparents, aunts, uncles and Guardians to meet and share their expectations.
What topics do we cover on the day?
The day aims to be relaxed and informal and is led by two experienced social workers, one of whom is a parent of a child from overseas.
The topics covered include:
- The difference between adoptive and birth parenting
- Reactions to and expectations of the family
- The gains and losses in adoption and the perspective of the birth family overseas
- The child's experiences before placement and how these might impact upon their future development
- Talking with young children about adoption and how to find the right words for the child
- Managing questions from the outside world
- A personal testimony from an adoptive grandparent or family member