When you hear the words "Older Child" many of us think of a child that is 5 years old or older. In the world of adoption,it means a child that is not an infant. More like toddler age that has not been adopted yet and then older.

It is often very easy to have children under the age of five come up for adoption. Usually this happens through Foster Care when a child has had the parental rights terminated. Or in foreign countries where there are orphanages that children are placed in at birth and are left there until they are adopted or placed in another home.

International adoption is a wonderful way to find an older child that needs to be adopted. We have an out cry for children who are left homeless with out parents who have been placed in the orphanages and will be there for long term unless someone picks them to become part of their own family.

Many times people will choose to adopt an infant and this child may have siblings who are left behind.

We need more families that will consider helping keep siblings together in the adoption world. Many times in Domestic Adoption here in America there are programs to inspire the adoption of sibling groups and often the adoptive parents are offered compensation in form of child subsidy to keep the children together.

Being placed in Foster care itself is devastating but when you see your siblings placed in other homes and you are separated from them also. It can be very traumatic.

Adopting siblings together can bring a joyful advantage to family units. This is one type of Older Child Adoption. Where there are a group of children various ages that you decide to adopt and keep together.

We adopted 4 of the 7 siblings that came into foster care at the same time. The birth mother has had 17 children that have been taken by the state, three of which have died due to illness and neglect. We have also kept contact with a fifth child who was placed into state facilities due to his lack of self control and behavorial issues.

Once a group of siblings are separated and placed into different homes for adoption. It is very hard to keep contact with all of the children and their new adoptive families.

Considering the adoption of an older child is the beginning. This just means that you are open minded to adopting a child who is older than an infant. Bonding is easier if the child is still at a toddlers age. Once a child is given a safe place to live and finds out what a normal life is like.
Bonding begins.

I would love to hear from some of the families out there that have adopted older children and how things have worked out for your family. All comments are welcome. It is our pleasure to hear from our readers.