A Child's Understanding of Adoption

Adoption is a journey over a lifetime.  Thankfully, research and many years of experience from those who have come before us has provided us with guidance for raising our children with more sensitivity and awareness.  Below are some of the most important things to know by age about a child's understanding of adoption. 

 

  

Age 5

  • Children exhibit no understanding of adoption

Age 5 1/2

  • Children fail to differentiate between adoption and birth; instead fusing the two concepts together. They may think that all children are adopted.

Age 7

  • Children clearly differentiate between adoption and birth as alternative paths to parenthood. They accept that the adoptive family relationship is permanent, but they do not understand why. Many rely on a sense of faith or notions of possession to justify the permanence.

Age 8

  • Children differentiate between adoption and birth but are unsure about the permanence of the adoptive parent-child relationship. Biological parents are seen as having the potential for reclaiming guardianship over the child at some future but unspecified time.

Age 10

  • Children’s descriptions of the adoptive family relationship are characterized by a quasi-legal sense of permanence. Specifically, they refer to “signing papers,” or invoke some authority such as a judge, lawyer, doctor, or social worker who in some vague way “makes” the parent-child relationship permanent.

Age 12

  • The adoption relationship is now characterized as permanent, involving the legal transfer of rights and/or responsibilities for the child from the biological parents to the adoptive parents.

Source: Brodzinsky, D.M., Singer, L.M., & Bbraff, A.M. (1984). Children’s understanding of adoption. Child Development, 55, 869-878

 

Additional resources for talking to children about adoption

How Children View Adoption by Age

AFH Sponsors

We appreciate the support of our sponsors!

Presenting Sponsors 

Richard Holt and Mark McMasters

Anonymous

SES Foam

Platinum Sponsors

Kathie Otte et al.

Gold Sponsors

Copper State Rubber

Stephanie M. Harp, Attorney at Law

Silver Sponsors

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka et al.

Lauren Dangelmayr and Jon Sammon

The Garza family

Bronze Sponsors

Raju Adwaney & Abhishek Kansara

Michael and Katy Casey

Ciro's Italian Grill

Friend of AFH

Christie and Jeff Megow

The Urban Family

Picnic Activity Sponsors

Balloon & Face Painting

Michael's Shell

Obstacle Course

Berly Family

Selfie Station 

de Roode Family