Adoption Classes

One of the many requirements for adoptive parents is parenting classes.  And since Scott and I are first timers, we were required to take a LOT of parenting classes.  China requires 12 hours of classes ( we completed 23.5hrs), and at least half must be face to face.  Our adoption agency Children's Hope International connected us with Adoption Learning Partners, and we took some of the required classes online.  Although at first we felt confident, we learned a ton from these classes.  Even though Winn has a lot of education about child development we were lacking information on development in orphanages and the best way to nurture and built attachment with Lottie Lee once we bring her home.  We highly recommend The Hague course package, which includes the following classes: Adopting the older Child, Becoming your Child's best Advocate, China her land her people, China: Language, Festivals and Traditions, Conspicitious Families, Finding the missing pieces, Helping adoptive children cope with grief and loss, Medical issues in international adoption, Journey of attachment, and We're home now what: for parents of newly adoptive toddlers/preschoolers.  All of these classes are online and available to retake them at any time--what a wonderful resource for adopting families.

In addition to the Adoption Learning Partners, we attended some face to face instruction and met a bunch of other adoptive families and discussed how to address adoption with your children, strangers and family members.  This class titled How to talk about adoption with young children, Talking about adoption issues with kids 7-17, and Helping kids move from their orphanage to your family.  Although the class was only 3 hours long, it was one of the best we had attended and we really enjoyed everything we gained from the class. The discussions were honest and heartfelt, and there was the support from other adopting parents to discuss concerns and personal struggles.

We also took infant CPR and SIDS classes, where we introduced ourselves as Scott and Winn waiting to bring our sweet Lottie Lee home from China--we learned so many others were touched by adoption including the instructor.  Our very last class was required by our agency, Children’s Hope International, for first time parents to take an infant care class.  We were the only non pregnant parents attending, and thought it was kind of  funny to announce we have been expecting for 12 months, most of the soon to be Mom’s didn’t take humor in the situation, but everyone was really intrigued about our adoption and of course wished the very best. We completed our last class on February 25, 2012.