Adoption is often spoken about as a joyful, new beginning – a story of love, belonging, and hope. And while these things can be true, they are only a part of a complex, intricate story. Another truth is that adoption cannot exist without loss. For an adoptee, that loss can be preverbal or stored in explicit memory, understood early or only later in life, and it is real and worthy of care. Supporting a child’s adoption grief requires honesty, emotional humility, and a willingn

Family bonding is more important than ever in today’s fast-paced and digitally driven world. As parents, finding meaningful ways to connect with our children and build lasting relationships can be a challenge. This is where New Year’s resolutions can play a crucial role. By setting goals together as a family, we can strengthen our bond, instill valuable life skills, and promote personal growth. Please read more on this topic by Pamela Myers, BSEd, at Child Development Instit

National Adoption Day is a collective, grassroots effort to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. A coalition of national partners — the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption , Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute , Alliance for Children’s Rights ,  and Children’s Action Network  — launched National Adoption Day in 1999. For more information, please visit the National Adoption Day website here .

October is Sensory Processing Awareness Month! Sensory processing issues are often first recognized during the toddler years , when parents notice that a child has an unusual aversion to noise, light, shoes that are deemed too tight and clothes that are irritating. They may also notice clumsiness and trouble climbing stairs, and difficulty with fine motor skills like wielding a pencil and fastening buttons. Read more on this topic at the Child Mind Institute here .