Parenting Your Adopted Teenager
The teenage years bridge the transition from childhood to young adulthood. It is a time of enormous change and development, when youth forge an identity and embrace new interests. Adoption adds complexity to the normal development of teenagers, regardless of whether they were adopted as infants or when they were older. This factsheet is designed to help adoptive parents understand the needs and experiences of their teen and use practical strategies to foster healthy development. These strategies include approaches that acknowledge potential trauma and loss, support effective communication, promote independence, and address possible behavioral and mental health concerns.