Adoptive Parents' Guide to Infants and Toddlers First edition, 2000 $12 / ISBN 0-9691868-9-4 By Jennifer Smart, BHScOT Editor, Post-adoption Helper

How to order Adoptive Parents' Guide to Infants and Toddlers

To order a copy, fill in this form and send, with your cheque, to: 220 Summerhill Rd., Southampton, Ont. N0H 2L0 Canada.

Adoptive Parents' Guide to Infants and Toddlers is also available (No. 9) at a discount ($9) when you order four or more titles from the Family Helper series. See the form at Family Helper, and choose the editions you'd like to order.

EXCERPT

A precious time

I've started with a short review of the McCain-Mustard Report ("What the Early Years Study means for adoptive families") since it covers the concerns our children face in a concise way, based on very up-to-date research.

With the first year being so critical, I have emphasized medical information, knowing what to look for, and where to get immediate help. I have reviewed some articles on International Adoption Clinics, why they are a good idea and how they can support your child's local doctor. Also I have provided information on a new international/domestic adoption clinic, the Canadian Adoption Clinic, in Mississauga, Ont.

My second section is on information, resources and suggestions on how to provide your infant and toddler with the environment and play-based activities to encourage their development. If you are able to nurture your child with the understanding of what might have been missing early on, then you are giving your child a timely second chance to learn and integrate these necessary sensory-motor skills. It will also allow you to see if your child is having difficulty in any areas, and what professional assessment/treatment (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language) might be needed.

My third section is on dealing with special needs which may present themselves. Some parents knowingly choose to parent a child with particular special needs. Others are taken by surprise -- they adopt an apparently healthy infant, only to realize later that genetics, prenatal exposures or early abuse have given their child lifelong challenges. Some parents adopt a child hoping "love will cure all", but later realize the challenges they have accepted require their love plus specialized intervention.

Sometimes our dreams are changed without our permission ... our decisions have suddenly taken us down unfamiliar paths. You will have lots of company in the adoption community, where facing the "unexpected" seems to be fairly normal! Parents who have "been there" offer practical support, and can help you find the way so your child can attain their wonderful potential. There are excellent resources available now including special interest groups, Internet listservs, and provincial and national organizations.

As a parent of two specially challenged children, both adopted as "healthy" infants, I want all adoptive parents to realize your children are truly gifts. They arrive, grow and blossom into the unique persons they were meant to be. They have their own unique talents which will flourish if we discover them and encourage them, despite all the other identified "disabilities." Their paths are probably much different than ours were when we were growing up. Their experiences will likely take them on life journeys we might not have originally planned for them!

Yet I have faith that all our children will find their place and contribute in their own personal way to a better world. I hope this issue will inspire you to see the blessings and have faith that each challenge will somehow work itself out.

How to order Adoptive Parents' Guide to Infants and Toddlers

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