Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child

"A wonderful, thoughtful resource for adoptive parents . . . a book that will grow with you as you navigate your parenting journey." --Carrie Kitze, author of I Don't Have Your EyesIn this book, child and family therapist Patty Cogen, M.A., Ed.D. guides parents in promoting an internationally adopted child's social and emotional adjustment, explaining how to help a child adopted between the ages of six months and five years bond with his or her new parents, become a part of the family, and develop a positive self-image that incorporates both American identity and ethnic origins. Other topics include how (and why) to tell the child's story from the child's point of view; how to handle sleep problems and resistance to household rules; and how to encourage eye contact, ease transitions and separations, and deal with problematic anniversaries (birthdays, adoption day, Mother's Day). With advice on language and school difficulties and the development of self-control and independence, Cogen guides adoptive parents from the initial meeting through their child's teen years. It's an indispensable resource, not only for parents, but also for therapists and educators who work with adopted children."A remarkably comprehensive and useful resource for both parents and practitioners. This book is a wise roadmap that anyone adopting internationally should have for easy reference." --Susan Soonkeum Cox, vice president, Holt International adoption agency