We are excited to invite you to our 2.5 (2 and a half) hour workshop for adopted children aged 8 – 11, along with a parent, to give children the opportunity to consider how they might confidently answer questions they might be asked about adoption or ethnicity outside the home.
Many parents say that their children can be reluctant to talk about adoption. We have found that a safe group setting with other adopted children can help open up discussions that are carried on later with parents.
This two and a half hour workshop is open to groups of no more than ten adopted children aged between 8-11 years old together with one parent each. It aims to be a fun, interesting and supportive experience for the children and parents attending.
The core purpose is to give adopted children an opportunity to consider how they might confidently answer questions they may be asked about adoption or ethnicity outside the home.
The workshop also assists children in appreciating all they know about adoption and to explore gently some feelings they might have. They are helped to think about the words children might use in talking about being adopted.
With the child and parent together, we also look at ways they are like each other and characteristics the child might have inherited from a birth parent. The purpose of this is to assist the child in openly thinking about all the different aspects of themselves and strengthening self-esteem.
We draw from the US “Wise Up” programme for some of the content of the workshop, and we use Theraplay games to keep the children engaged and relaxed. An explanatory handout is available for parents attending.
This workshop will be facilitated by Karen McGuire, Rebecca Murphy and Caoimhe O’Sullivan from our children’s team.
Please note that there will be a strict limit on one parent per child.
The event is free, but donations are welcome.