3 Reasons for Adopting an Older Child
Eight years is the average age of a child waiting to be adopted, but many older children are in foster care because of abuse or neglect. Adopting an older child from guardianship gives them a chance to have a stable home, a loving family, and all the benefits of being part of your family.
Adoption is beneficial for the child and also for you. Here are just some of the reasons why:
1) Helps You Start Your Parenting Journey
You get a head start on your parenting journey. Your child comes equipped with life skills learned through the foster care system. This means they’ll be familiar with manners, self-care, and safety.
2) Minimizes Feelings of Isolation
You can immediately help your new family member feel like part of the pack. Older kids in foster care for a while can often feel isolated, rejected, or lonely. This is especially true if they’ve never had any siblings before. So, bonding with their new brothers and sisters immediately can make all the difference for them.
3) Creates a Strong Bond
Many children in the foster care system have experienced trauma and have had difficulty forming attachments. This can make it harder for them to adjust to life outside the care home, leading to behavioral problems like depression/anxiety. Thus, this makes it difficult for families without experience caring for children with special needs.
When you take on the role of parent, you help them learn what it means to be loved and cared for by offering them a stable home life. You can give them what they need because children who have experienced trauma are often afraid to trust people who are supposed to love them unconditionally.
Conclusion
Adopting a child from foster care is not only a rewarding experience but also incredibly beneficial for the child you adopt. We believe that every child deserves a loving, safe home. We work with foster children in our area to find them the best possible match for a family. Please contact us for more questions about adoption.