Foster care and adoption can be complex topics to discuss with children. Books can serve as a helpful tool in starting these conversations. A daily habit of reading together will allow you to choose books that act as a natural gateway to meaningful discussion. Read-aloud time begins with small steps that you mindfully repeat. Here are three tips for making the most of this time spent together:
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Find time and space for a story in your nighttime routine. Once your routine is established, you’ll find that reading aloud becomes as ingrained in your nightly routine as brushing your teeth.
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Take a picture walk before you read a story. Illustrations are visual clues that can help kids build their vocabulary as they learn about emotions. Pause to look at the characters’ body language and ask, “How do you think she’s feeling right now?”
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Pause often while reading. This helps children make connections between what they read, their experiences, and the world around them. For example:
- The grandma in this story reminds me of your grandma. They both love going to the park and telling stories.
- Hey, her brother is adopted too! Do you think she loves her brother as much as you love yours?
- He seems nervous about living with a new family. Do you remember when you came to live with us?
Taking time to talk during reading encourages children to engage more deeply with the text, which in turn helps them better understand their own lives.
Our Resource Library has many children’s books available to check out at no cost. You can find a small sample of titles you may be interested in listed below.
Recommended Resources
From the Resource Library
- Violet & Me: A Kinship Adoption Story, by Claudette Larson, LICSW, R-PT
- No Matter What: A Foster Care Tale, by Josh Shipp With David Tieche
- We Love You Hundreds and Thousands, by Dara Read
