Meeting Your Adoptive Child for the First Time! | Advice for Adoptive Parents

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You have been matched with your child and now it's time to meet them for the first time! This is SUCH an exciting time, but did you know that it is not always so exciting for the child? This is why it is so important to make this first meeting one that makes your new child feel safe and secure. Check out the video for some practical tips for how to make this first meeting as smooth as possible!

What other adoption topics would you like videos on? Tell me in the comments!

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I created this channel as a space to encourage others. I truly believe that even if we have differing views, we can still get along and be kind. That being said, any hurtful, mean, offensive, or malicious comments will be deleted.

Thanks so much for watching!

-Katie

#adoptionjourney #adoption #adoptionawareness

[ettinakitten]

The fact that this needs to be said saddens me. It sounds like I put more thought into the comfort of my dog as I adopted her than some people do when adopting human children. I was very aware when we brought her home that this "happy occasion" was going to be very scary to an 8 week old puppy who's never slept without her mom & littermates before, and put a lot of energy into trying to help her feel safe.

[dodiekoehler]

Excellent information! We adopted our daughter at almost one year old. She is now 31 years old. Our son was given to us 5 minutes after he was born. His adoption was final 6 months later. He is now 28 years old.

[madeline]

Thank you so much for talking about respecting a child’s physical boundaries and keeping their potential past trauma in mind. I think it’s really important for kids to know that they are safe with you, and they learn that by you showing them that you respect their desires and their boundaries. I’m not a parent, I work at a daycare and we have a partnership with an agency so we care for a lot of foster children. You have to meet kids where they’re at if you want to help them.

[ca]

Only 5 minutes in, but yes!! Our 14 month old did run up to give us hugs and wanted to be held, but later on he's been diagnosed with disorganized attachment disorder. We've put a lot of hard work in to get him to a more secure attachment. We absolutely would not change our choice to foster to adopt. But thank you for bringing awareness to attachment styles and disorders.
We are in the process of praying to foster to adopt an older child as well and recently found your videos. So much good information!

[mayrafernandez]

Thank you. So agree. Mom of 11 adopted kids.

[patientlywaiting]

Thanks for the tips, Katie! We are going through the process of adopting an older elementary age child. This gave me a lot of ideas. I especially like the idea of making a mini photo book for him to keep with family/house photos to give at the first meeting. I’m also starting to think of places to go that’s non threatening like his favorite park to play for a while. Any tips you have would be awesome!

[brysonwest]

Omgoodness, thank you on the recording issue. It's not a performance!

[SMj]

3years after you made this and it’s still helping people! Thank you for this video!

[MariannaValenciaMKT]

This is exactly the information I was needing!! I am about to meet my kid, who is around 6 years. Btw the not recording advice is a huge advice. Not being invasive and making it about THEM not us!

[lrenterx]

Thank you. This is such a helpful video. I agree with you about respecting the child's space an not overwhelming him/her.

[Dennyswifey]

Thank you we’re excepting a four year old and I can see how your tips will make for a smooth transition

[AlasseaCarnesir]

Thank you so much for your insights and valuable information and tips. I've only started watching your videos recently and have found them so helpful and I appreciate that you also talk about adoption issues which are not widely shared (Your Post-Adoption Blues videos was very insightful and helpful.) We will hopefully be meeting our little one for the first time in 2-3 months if borders don't close again (we will be an intercountry adoption) so this video is a big help and I'll be making sure I follow some of your tips here as well.

[djkv]

I’ve don’t believe that anybody, trauma or no trauma, should be made to hug anyone. It’s called bodily autonomy. I hated as a kid when it was all give so and so a hug hi. So, I don’t do it to my nephews, and I won’t make my kids do it.

[maddiemahoney]

When adopting an older child from a foster home, do you make multiple visits before they come to your house? I really like this video and how much I've learned about the child's perspective and making them comfortable!

[lexiegentry]

Wow what an excellent pov. It really puts in the child’s perspective. Thank you for sharing this!

[AngPoe]

I think a great video to watch after this would be your video on love vs attachment. ☺️

[nicholemaclean]

This is my favourite type of video that you do. Thanks for sharing 😊

[shiannstilley]

This is very eye opening!! Thank you!! ♥️

[GodManifest]

I love your videos. Thank you for doing them❤

[catherinemcnicoll]

When we match (we are looking at ages 7-10), do you think a scrapbook about our family would be something good to bring to a first visit? I am a fairly creative person and for me I want a project to work on while we wait and think this might be a good outlet for me but want to know if you think it might help the child too.