#1: A photo book with a few pictures of yourself and family. You could include a letter.

Write about yourself and your childhood. Share your likes and dislikes, hobbies, and other things about yourself to help the child get to know you. Explain why adoption was the right route for the child and for you. Maybe it can help the child later to get closure if it is a closed adoption, or to have to know who you were/are. In the photo book, put pictures of you and your family. Let your child see you as a kid.

#2: Stuffed Animal

This is such a simple keepsake that lets the child think of you, and the joy it gives them is so sweet. To make it extra special, maybe attach a poem about love or adoption.

#3: Something the Child Likes

Ask the adoptive family what the child is into, like science or art. What movie or TV show character(s) does your child like? Find a matching book, craft, or toy. Still not sure? You can always share what you liked as a child. Bond a little over potential shared interests.

#4: Jewelry

Any bracelet or necklace with the child’s birthday or adoption date imprinted on it is special to them. Maybe a “best friends” type of jewelry. You give one to them, and then have one for yourself to match as well. This can be a great thing to keep you close to each other. It doesn’t need to say “best friends,” but the idea or sentiment is the same.

#5: Blanket/Quilt (Homemade if possible)

This is a great gift for any age! It is something your child can keep to snuggle like a big hug from you every time your child uses it. Use your or your child’s favorite color to make it special. You could have their name put on it—the possibilities are endless. If you can sew or make one yourself, add a special piece of cloth that was yours, from a blanket or clothing, to make it personal.

#6: Personal Artwork

Draw or paint a picture; write a poem. Use your talents to make something that touches you or something you enjoy. You could stick with the adoption, family, and/or love theme. Keep it happy and uplifting. Put your personality into it. 

#7: Superhero Gifts

Batman was adopted. So was Superman, Spiderman, Wolverine…. Toys or T-shirts with the superhero faces on it can help advocate adoption as well as be fun for the child. Princess Sofia the First and Princess Leia were adopted, too.

#8: Something That You Like(d)

Share with your birth child a hobby of something you liked growing up. If you are into art, send paper and paint. If you like music, send CDs of your favorite songs or artists. Think of toys or movies you liked as a child and send them something similar. Any favorite children’s books you had as a child would work, too. Children love books and movies!

#9: Journal

Get them a great, age-appropriate journal or notebook. Open it up to the first page and start the journal with your own entry. Write about the day they were born, your feelings about adoption, and why it was for you and your child. Encourage them to be open in the journal about themselves, their thoughts, about everything–including adoption. Journals are a wonderful tool and outlet.

#10: Storybooks

Any children’s book is always a huge hit! In this case, especially books about love, family and, of course, adoption. Children love stories. They remember the sweet tales and the characters. They can relate to them easily, like looking up to the super heroes. They can find things they have in common with the characters and the story lines!

These are only a small sample of ideas, but hopefully it will spark something in your heart that feels right. You can always talk to the adoptive parents, too.

Sometimes the adoptive parents can give you better or different ideas as well. I am an adoptive mom, and from Christmas to my son’s birthday in March, he went from loving Paw Patrol to Ninja Turtles really fast! So, you never know if something they liked last week is the same as it is now!

Make sure you don’t go overboard. Don’t go out and buy the child a couple hundred dollars’ worth of electronics or toys. Your child will appreciate anything you gift.

Also, you can choose to do one gift sentimental, and the next time a fun gift. It doesn’t always have to focus on adoption. Especially if you have a very open adoption, you see your child often, and she/he knows who you are.

Sharing and showing your birth child that you care is a big deal for you and for your child. It is a sweet connection you can help nurture in the right ways.

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Happy Reading!!

1. Home At Last by Vera B. Williams

In this endearing tale by Vera B. Williams, whom you may know from her other classic A Chair For My Mother, a young boy named Lester is adopted by Daddy Albert and Daddy Rich. The story follows their journey after Lester goes home with the couple. The book doesn’t shy away from sharing both the tender and difficult moments that can occur in adoption as new families are created, and how each person must adapt to those changes. Vera’s honest storyline coupled with Chris Raschka’s beautiful watercolor illustrations make for the perfect story to share with your older elementary child.

2. Little Miss Spider: A Christmas Wish by David Kirk

David Kirk delights in this heartwarming story of how two Christmas wishes came true; Miss Spider gained a sibling and Asparagus Beetle gained a family. Bright illustrations, rhythmic text, and sweet moments sure to bring a tear to your eye, make for a holiday tale every family needs in their library! While the story doesn’t directly mention that Asparagus Beetle is an orphan, Miss Spider’s mom cannot have children of her own, the theme is easy enough to spot after reading through it.

3. My Family Is Forever by Nancy Carlson

In My Family is Forever author Nancy Carlson combines colorful illustrations with reassuring text sure to allay any fears an adopted child may have that families really are forever. Nancy’s story shares one family’s journey to adopt, and all the steps the parents took to bring home their little girl, in a format that makes it easy for young children to grasp. The book’s inclusion of candid topics such as how families are formed in all different ways, families love each other in good times and bad, and that adopted children sometimes wonder about their birth parents and that’s okay, make for a classic book that will be a staple on the adoptive family’s bookshelf for years to come.

4. Happy Adoption Day by John McCutcheon

This uplifting tale with a celebratory feel combines rhythmic text and fun illustrations that share more of the “meat” of the story. This makes for a great book to get a conversation going about what your child sees in the pictures, and how you can relate it to your own adoption journey. Young children will appreciate the repetitive nature of the chorus that appears every couple of pages. Those who are musically inclined can use the included score to sing or play along!

There are many adoption children’s books available here. Let us know what adoption children’s books are your son or daughter’s favorites in the comments!

The post 4 Adoption Children’s Books You’ll Want To Read To Your Child appeared first on Adoption Products | Adoption Day Gifts for Child or Parents.

1. A keepsake from your own childhood.

Did you have a favorite stuffed animal, book, or blanket that your mom kept tucked away in a memory box? Did you cry when you mom would wash your blankie? Did your parents ever have to scour the house for that one teddy bear you couldn’t sleep without? Include a note telling the story and what it meant to your childhood. If it was special to you, it will probably be special to them. These can make the perfect gifts for your birth child.

2. A photo album or digital photo book of their birth family.

Include as many family members as you can (but ask permission to share their photos first) and bonus giggles if you include embarrassing pictures of yourself as a child/teenager. Kids love seeing images of their parents going through those “awkward stages” of life.

3. Supplies for a hobby you can share.

Do you love drawing? Give a box of crayons, paints, and papers then include postage paid envelopes that your child can use to mail finished art projects back to you. Maybe you have a passion for photography. You could give a starter camera and a flash drive, and the two of you could plan photo projects (nature, colors, or animals). Then, exchange flash drives to “critique” each other’s work. These gifts will help your child explore new hobbies, learn more about your interests, and keep the lines of communication open at the same time!

4. Adoption-positive books.

Books are always a welcomed gift and there are lots of great children’s books that celebrate the beauty of adoption as well as the uniqueness of all different types of families (click here for some excellent examples). Taking it a step further, you can purchase a “record your own voice” book and narrate it to your child.

5. A poem or personal letter.

Nothing may be as meaningful to your child as your own heartfelt words. Sharing a poem or personal letter about your choice to place them for adoption, about your love for them and even the challenges you’ve endured, and especially about your dreams for their future, will be a cherished gift that they can draw strength from time and time again.

If you’re needing other ideas for gifts for your birth child, be sure to check out this website. It has tons of t-shirts, books, and even jewelry especially created with adoption in mind.

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