Search Results for: blog very basic attachment disorder information

Help for Kids with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Jodee Kulp, adoptive parent of a teen-ager with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)and foster mother of others, is the author of Our FAScinating Journey, subtitled The Best We Can Be: Keys to Brain Potential Along the Path of Prenatal Brain Injury. This 300-page guide is both a memoir of the Kulp family’s experiences and efforts to help their daughter and an incredibly varied compilation of information and resources. The book begins with an introduction to the Kulp family, how they adopted Liz, a failure-to-thrive infant, and fostered Dave, diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Reactive Attachment Disorder, in his infancy … Continue reading →

Attachment Parenting-More Responding

In the last Blog, we discussed the fact that adoptive parents need to Plan on Responding to our child’s needs a bit more conscientiously especially during the first several months after becoming a member of the family. This entry lists some of the ways Adoptive parents might respond to the Arousal-Relaxation Cycle: Become in tune with how the child is feeling physically, pay attention and respond affectionately and attentively when they are sick. Respond quickly when they are hurt and do the whole “boo-boo” kiss routine even for minor injuries. Demonstrate compassion and let your child know that you don’t … Continue reading →

Part 1 Attachment Parenting of Adopted Children

Children with attachment difficulties often have a very different view of life and what it means to be part of a family. Attachment disorders occur when a child doesn’t have a safe and secure opportunity to learn how to attach during the first three years of life. There is a lot of information about attachment disorders, and the symptoms. The purpose of this series will be about parenting for attachment with our children. Parenting for attachment is a positive way of parenting any child and regardless of the type of attachment disorder a baby, toddler or child may have parenting … Continue reading →

Very Basic Attachment Disorder Information.

An Attachment Disorder is a significant inability to bond and form meaningful connections with others in an honest, personal and non-manipulative fashion. There are three general factors used to determine if a child has an attachment disorder and how serious the disorder may be: Did the child experience significant disruptions in their natural bonding process during the first 12-18 months of life? This may include prolonged separations form their primary caregiver including long hospital stays for either the baby or the caregiver. It may include poor childcare services where the babies needs are not well met and there is little … Continue reading →

How do you choose a child you’ve never met?

Can I ask you a question? Just one question…? How on earth am I supposed to say yes or no to a child I have never actually met? As I mentioned the other day, we have been presented with a potential match. We had some questions, and we had some concerns. We were initially given what they call a “child study” on this girl. The child study is similar to the home study, but while the home study is the information on an adoptive or foster family, the child study is a document containing information about the child. Based on … Continue reading →

Superficially Engaging

It’s been interesting talking with my neighbor about Reactive Attachment Disorder, maybe because during the past four-years I have had to learn everything as I went along. Most of my support system lost track of where we were at with whatever we were trying to do to help our daughter. It’s been nice to have someone new to share with–now that we are used to this reality and not in a state of panic or despair. Reactive attachment disorder is more then the set of Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria RAD is a condition in which a child has difficulty forming … Continue reading →

Adopting An Older Child–Having A Positive Attitude.

Families who decide to adopt an older child generally endure several hours of training about all the different risks, issues and disorders we may have to face once a child is placed in our home for adoption. We are offered lists of acronyms for every kind of problem any parent might face, along with pages of information about some of the special needs an older child may suffer. Most of our family and friends are able to hold a straight face and agree to be a part of our Support System. A few people say foolish, uneducated, or ridiculous things … Continue reading →

Adoptive Parents True Goals With House Rules.

If you’re the adoptive parent of a child who was placed at an older age, attachment issues and disorders may be a part of your family experience. In some future Blogs, I will talk about how incentives, token rewards and charts usually don’t work well with children who have serious attachment disorders. House Rules on the other hand need to be clear, consistent and visual even for an child with an attachment disorder. If adoptive parents followed their training advice and worked, hard for a healthy transition then accepting an older child placement should have started with some kind of … Continue reading →

Allowing our Adopted Child to Feel Pride for The Genetics They Were Given From Their Birth Family.

My co-blogger, Kathy recently wrote about some of the differences and same characteristics her baby son has in common with his adopted mom and dad as well as the growing realization that her son would have brown eyes and not blue and the feeling of acceptance of diversity within our families. Her entry reminded me of some of the special things adoptive parents need to remember as was raise our children. And especially how important it is to embrace these genetic differences with a child who is adopted at an older age. Kathy will likely discuss the issue of Connor’s … Continue reading →