More adopters needed to help keep brothers and sisters together
 Whether you've been thinking of adopting for a while, or it's a brand new idea you are only just considering, you might not have considered adopting more than one child. However it is something worth thinking about!
For many people, it sounds like too much of a challenge, but ask yourself:
- Do I have the space, time and energy to devote to more than one child?
- Would the impact of two or more children joining the family be too great?
- How might their shared experiences affect them currently and in the future?
Groups of brothers and sisters tend to wait longer for an adoptive family, and One Adoption West Yorkshire is particularly looking for adopters who would consider welcoming a sibling group into their family.
Across West Yorkshire we have over 150 children waiting to find their permanent homes, and of those, 73 are part of a sibling group of two or more.
In fact there are lots a great reasons why adopting siblings is a great idea. Here are our top five:
1. Keeping the bond. Our brothers and sisters are the longest lasting relationships we have
They are there with us at the beginning and throughout our lives. Keeping siblings together helps children nurture a sense of identity; it develops their self-esteem and can help their mental health. It also means they can have the shared experiences of growing up together, as siblings are meant to.
2. Adopting siblings means you only need to go through the process once
Sometimes, adopters feel they would like to expand their family and give their adopted child a brother or sister. When you adopt siblings you create a family unit quickly, which means you can put a lot of energy into building your new family at once rather than in stages.
3. Joining a family together can help adopted children settle and have a positive sense of who they are
Having a brother or sister share the experience can help adopted children settle quickly into their new homes. Unlike leaving a brother or sister behind, which can make them feel worried.
4. Children learn social skills like sharing and caring for each other from being part of a sibling group
Growing up with brothers and sisters teaches us to give and take. And that doesn’t just mean stuff. It’s all about sharing our emotions too. Keeping siblings together helps develop well-balanced children.
5. Brothers and sisters have a shared story, which can give them the strength to support each other throughout their lives
You may never know exactly what happened before your adopted child came to you. But his or her sibling was there. Being with each other can help them release their emotions and deal with their past, plus any questions they may have in the future.
Being a parent is tough, and all children need individual attention for their different needs. Adopted children can bring their own challenges. But sibling groups offer many advantages in terms of emotional security, mutual support and learning, all stemming from their shared past. They will never feel ‘I’m the only one like me’, because there will be someone just down the hall or the top bunk who is just like them, who has been there all along.
So give it a thought, it might be the best thing you every did!
Find out more...
If you are ready to start your adoption journey or just want to find out more, then coming along to an information event is your next step.
At a One Adoption West Yorkshire information event we will share with you information that will help you to better understand adoption and how it could work for you and your family, including:
- How you could become an adoptive parent/family;
- How we will get to know you and work with you during the process;
- The truth about adoption from an adopter's real-life perspective;
- What training and support is available, and;
- Details about children who could become part of your family
You’ll also be able to talk to our social work staff in confidence and ask questions about your circumstances.
Information events take place twice a month across the West Yorkshire region, please see our website for all future planned events.
The details of our next two information events are below...
One Adoption West Yorkshire is the regional adoption agency providing adoption services for all five councils in the area: Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
All images are posed by models
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