Getting yourself adoption-ready
Now is a good time to find out more about adopting a child. There’s a range of books, podcasts and organisations all sharing knowledge and first-hand experience of adoption – from all points of view. At Adopt London, we are keen to share a holistic and modern view of adoption, and we encourage prospective adopters – as part of their essential research – to start gathering relevant adoption information.
As a prospective adoptive parent, the more research you do, the more informed and prepared you are for your adoption journey.
If you are seriously thinking about adoption, read on, select resources that suit you, your lifestyle and learning, and make good use of these dark winter evenings to find out if adoption is right for you.
Research on the go – adoption podcasts
Podcasts are available on a range of devices and platforms and are free. You can multi-task and do chores while listening! They cut down your screen time and allow you to focus on the experience being shared.
- Adoption Shared podcasts– produced by our partners We Are Family. Three series worth of helpful advice for those thinking about adoption. The last series focuses on the joys and challenges of adoption in the Black community, with host Eddie Elliott
- You Can Adopt podcasts cover a range of subjects. Listen to as many as you can.
Benefits of books
Prefer to absorb information at your pace? There are so many more books around on adoption, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are two books worth investing in (search online or try your local library/bookstore).
- No Matter What: An Adoptive Family’s Story of Hope, Love and Healing by Sally Donovan is a brilliant book that explores adoption in an honest and insightful way.
- The Quick Guide to Therapeutic Parenting by Sarah Naish and Sarah Dillon. Adopted children often need a different style of parenting given their early life experiences. This book explains therapeutic parenting as a special and specific way to raise children who have experienced trauma, and the patience and commitment it requires.
The adoption community
Real life experiences and the opportunity to ask questions is a great way to get informed. Adopt London’s online Meet the Adopters sessions are held monthly, and give you the chance to have your questions answered. You can become a New Family Social member – for LGBTQ+ families – completely free. You can also visit We Are Family, the National Association of Therapeutic parenting (NATP) or AdoptionUK websites. All provide blogs and articles giving essential information and food for thought as you start your research.
