It is natural for adopted children to grieve the life and family they never knew, no matter how old they were when adopted, how open the adoption or how happy their life with the adoptive family.
It is important for families to understand the gains and losses of all members of the adoption circle and to:
- Recognize the signs of grief in adopted children at different developmental stages
- Identify situations that may trigger grief responses
- Develop strategies for helping children grieve their losses
- Identify resources to help children and families grieve
- Understand when to seek professional assistance
