If any children in your care are from adoptive families, or know adoptive families, you'll want to be especially sensitive to their feelings. Children need to be reassured that adoptive families are real families, and that the family members in them love one another just the way other families do. Children may have many fantasies about adoption -- some of which an inaccurate. The children may have some concerns or questions about what it means to be "adopted." If you listen carefully, you may be able to find out about the things they don't understand.

Misunderstandings

For instance, sometimes children think that "adoption" means going to the store to buy a baby. You might want to reassure them that all babies are born in the same way and explain that when birth parents can't care for a child, they find a way for the child to get the love and care he or she needs. Sometimes children think that adopted children will be given back if they're naughty, and you may be able to reassure them that adoption is forever and that adoptive families will always love and care for their children just as parents in other families do.

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