Books
for
Adoptive Parents
Adopting
the
Hurt
Child: Hope for Families with
Special Needs Kids. Gregory Keck & Regina Kupecky. This
book is especially helpful for families adopting older children with
emotional, behavioral and/or psychological issues. Keck and Kupecky
give readers insight into how these children became hurt and offers
sound advice on not only dealing appropriately with the child's
behavior, exercising patience, and creating a safe and nurturing
environment and more.
Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for
Today’s Parents by Deborah D. Gray (2002) This is a classic in
the field of adoption. The book throughly explains attachment
concerns and then gives techniques for bonding with your child.
Adoption is a Family
Affair, by
Patricia Irwin Johnston (2001) A helpful book when friends or family
have questions about adoption or your decision to adopt.
Adoption Parenting, Creating a Toolbox,
Building Connections by Jean MacLeod and Sheena Macrae This book
is an excellent resource for adoptive parents. The book is a
collection of essays by experts and parents. The book is broken
down by topic so it is easy to use.
Beyond Consequences,
Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment
Challenged Children with Severe Behaviors, by Heather Forbes and B.
Bryan Post. Many parents get disenchanted by the first chapter
and the authors statements regarding the trauma a young infant
experiences after placement. However if you read further and
stick with book, it is full of practical real life tips that can help
you develop a better relationship with your child.
Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for
Self by David M. Brodzinsky, Ph.D.; Marshall D. Schechter, MD &
Robin Marantz Henig (1992). This book overlays potential adoption
developmental tasks on Erik Erickson’s model of developmental tasks.
Building the Bonds of
Attachment,
2nd. Edition, (2006), Daniel Hughes, Ph.D. This book is helpful
in understanding children with attachment concerns. The
techniques are easy to understand. This book is recommended for
parents of birth and adopted children
because it contains invaluable information.
The Connected Child: Bring
hope and healing to your adoptive family, by Karyn
Purvis, David Cross and
Wendy Lyons. This Fabulous book based on empirical research with
adopted children explains changes in the brain and uses a wholistic
approach to healing the wounded child.
Facilitating Developmental
Attachment, by Daniel Hughes, Ph.D.
This book is highly recommend. It offers both hope and
therapeutic techniques to use when parenting children with attachment
concerns.
Growing Up Again, By Sherrie Eldridge
This well written gives tremendous insights into the kind of
parenting one receives and the affects of that parenting on their own
ability to parent. One chapter is devoted entirely to adoption.
Nurturing Adoptions: Creating Resilience after
Neglect and Trauma (2007) Deborah D. Gray With higher and higher
percentages of children joining their families not as newborns, but
from domestic or international foster care or from orphanages abroad,
both parents and the professionals with whom they consult need new
skills.
Parenting from the Inside
Out,
Daniel Siegel & Mary Hartzel, 2003. The authors offer
lessons
in neurobiology and stress the importance of examining and making peace
with your past so that you can avoid repeating negative patterns of
interaction with your own kids.
Parenting With Love and
Logic:
Teaching Children Responsibility, 1990. Cline, M.D., Foster W.
& Fay, Jim. This classic introduces parents to allowing natural
consequences, staying calm, and giving choices. By allowing our
children to learn through consequences there is no need to lecture.
Parenting Teens With Love
& Logic:
Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood, 1992. Cline, M.D.,
Foster W. & Fay, Jim. Pinon Press, Colorado Springs, CO.
Another classic which reduces power struggles and helps parents
to maintain emotional regulation.
Raising Adopted Children: Books: Lois Ruskai Melina
by Lois Ruskai Melina. This solid practical book covers thoughts
of adoptees and their parents. The book is especially appreciated
by couples who were/are unable to conceive, as it speaks to these
couple's need to grieve.
Raising Children Who
Refuse To Be Raised, Dave Ziegler, Ph.D. 2002
Written by Oregon psychologist, therapist, and foster parent of
more than 30 years. This book is written in an easy to read format.
Ziegler's outlook is caring, effective, and realistic, with an
essential touch of humor.
Secret Thoughts Of An
Adoptive Mother, by Jana Wollf (1999)
This is one of the books I tell any perspective adoptive Mom to
read....the entire adoption process is at times frustrating and mind
boggling. There are plenty of other great books that explain adoption
ethics, respect for birthfamilies, the emotional loss of the adoptee,
and how to make sure that you are supportive of the needs of the
adopted child.
The Challenging Child, by Stanley Greenspan MD.
This is the one book to get if you have a child with special
needs. The methods in this book can take considerable time and
resources.
The Out of Sync Child, Carol Stock
Kranowitz, 1998. This book clearly lays out issues around sensory
integration. It has examples of normal SI and sensory
dysfunction. The book many resources for those children who may need
further evaluations.
The Post Adoption Blues: Overcoming the Unforeseen
Challenges of Adoption Karen Foli, Ph.D. and John Thompson, MD (2004).
An excellent book for infertile couples who may not have worked
through the loss of the biological child, they will never have.
There is also information and discussion about older adopted
children.
Toddler Adoption: The Weaver’s Craft by
Mary Hopkins-Best (1997)This book is a guide for parents who have
adopted a child who is old enough to remember loss and trauma, yet not
old enough to express their emotions or memories. The author has
helped unravel some of the mysteries that come with toddlers. It
is most valuable in helping assess whether behaviors are adoption
related or typical toddler behavior.
Twenty Things Adopted Kids
Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew By Sherrie
Eldridge. This collection of essays offers insight into 20 common
unspoken concerns that often affect adopted children and their parents,
and offers pragmatic advice for overcoming these challenges together.
Your Defiant Child, Russell Barkley & Christine Benton,
1998. The book's eight-step program stresses consistency and
cooperation, promoting changes through a system of praise, rewards, and
discipline. Readers learn tools and strategies to reduce difficult
behavior and family stress.
