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By Abbie Smith, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services
 I usually write about issues directly connected to behavior, which relates to a child’s ability to regulate their emotions. I came across the article below and wanted to share it in its entirety with you. Ms. Elleseff’s article is full of fun activities parents can do with their children. In January, she graciously gave her verbal permission to reprint this article for Holt’s families. Enjoy!
Speech-Language Strategies for Multisensory Stimulation of Internationally Adopted Children
By: Tatyana Elleseff MA CCC-SLP Date Posted: 2012-01-11
This article was first published in January 2012 Issue of Adoption Today Magazine (pp. 40-43).
Recently, I participated in a professional adoption email discussion regarding developmental stimulation of infants and toddlers in orphanages and it got me thinking about not just the importance of stimulation for institutionalized children but also about stimulation activities for post-institutionalized children. Orphanages have long been infamous for sensory deprivation as well as a host of other adversities. Even one month spent Continue reading Speech-Language Strategies for Internationally Adopted Children
By Sunday Silver, MA, Director of Post Adoption Services
I am very pleased to announce that Adoption Learning Partners’ new course, “We’re Home, Now What?” is now available online at http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.com/. This is the first course created by a collaboration of eight adoption agencies. A huge thank you goes to Adoption Learning Partners for their efforts in making this collaboration possible. I have included a flier about these courses for families who have adopted toddler, pre-school, or school aged children and have been home less than a year. This course could also be valuable for families home longer than a year. Please take the time to read through the information flier Continue reading We’re Home – Now What?
By Abbie Smith, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services
What is attunement? The definition is to bring into harmonious or responsive relationship. Some amazing examples of attunement are birds flocking, fish swimming in a school, and people at a stadium doing the Wave. Other more common examples are sitting down or rising from a chair at the exact same time as your friend, or realizing that how your body is arranged while sitting across from a friend or family member is the mirror image of theirs; and when you shift a little they unconsciously shift as you did. When we vocalize in response to a baby’s vocalization we are attuning to their attempts to communicate.
How can adoptive parents practice attunement with their child? The basic elements of attunement are to be open to the other’s experience, use acute listening and observing, be responsive and synchronous. How can we apply this to parenting our children; adopted or Continue reading Attunement
By Abbie Smith, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services
Sometimes after returning home with their very much desired child parents realize they are not having the loving feelings they were expecting. They spent years working towards getting their child home and can be completely miffed by what they are feeling. It is easy to start to thinking something is wrong with them and questioning themselves. This is what I wanted so why aren’t I happy? Why don’t I have that loving feeling? Often parents don’t want to mention it to anyone, afraid of what they will think, afraid of being labeled a bad parent, afraid someone will take the baby away. So they suffer in silence. Continue reading Post Adoption Depression
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I usually write about issues directly connected to behavior, which relates to a child’s ability to regulate their emotions. I came across the article below and wanted to share it in its entirety with you. Ms. Elleseff’s article is full of fun activities parents can do with their children. In January, she graciously gave her verbal permission to reprint this article for Holt’s families. Enjoy!