When a child is adopted as a toddler things are very different then adopting an infant or older child. There are very few resources for families adopting toddlers but this book is a must have. Mary Hopkins-Best, a child development expert and mother of a child adopted as a toddler wrote Toddler Adoption, The Weaver’s Craft as a guidebook for those considering toddler adoption or those already dealing with some of the special challenges of adopting a toddler. Hopkins-Best discusses some of the strategies of dealing with the issues like a grieving toddler as well as some of the attachment disorders.
This books outlines and explains many of the normal toddler developmental milestones. Hopkins-Best does a wonderful job and outlines some of the possible variances in the adopted toddler. The appendix is full of many resources and anecdotes of both successful situations as well as failures from other toddler adoptive families.
Many adoptive parents feel this book does a great job of making clear the toddlers’ unique situation. The toddler is old enough to realize a dramatic change has taken place in their lives yet too young to ask questions, understand or articulate the feelings and emotions they have about the changes. I found the way Hopkins-Best covered the differences in developmental stages and how adoption may impact a toddler differently depending on where the child is at in development very interesting and informative.
Mary Hopkins-Best, covers a wide range of different adoption situations and uses her own experience, existing literature and information from thirty families to provide a wealth of information, support and comfort for any family adopting a non-infant toddler.
Our son was placed three days before his first birthday and was toddler. I found this book to provide me with great piece of mind and insight about what I was feeling and how my little boy was responding. The most helpful moment was shortly after placement when I was feeding him a bottle and I could see this “look” come across his eyes. It was clear I saw him thinking, “You are a nice enough woman but, what happened to my other mommy?” The question was there in his eyes. I found this book to be great inspiration and it helped me tune into his non-verbal communication and understand some of the real things that were going on in his little mind and heart.
I would strongly recommend this book as an important part of an adoptive parents library. You may order a copy of Toddler Adoption, The Weaver’s Craft at adoptionshop.com
Special Needs and Adoption-Related Terms:
A | B | C | D | E-F | G-H-I | J-K-L | M | N-O | P | Q-R | S | T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
For more information about parenting special needs children you might want to visit the Families.com Special Needs Blog and the Mental Health Blog. Or visit my personal website.