1. Family Transitions Dr. Connie Green

2. Adoption Adopted children are born just like other children Children are adopted after they are born Adoption is forever Adoption is a legal process Adoptive families share love like other families

3. Adoption: Tips for Teachers Develop a positive attitude toward adoption. Recognize that families talk about adoption in different ways. Get to know families before asking questions. Become informed about adoption issues. Review your curriculum. Make your classroom inclusive and be an advocate for adoptive children.

4. Divorce About 60% of preschool children today will live in a single-parent family at some time. In 1998, 19.8 million children under 18 lived with 1 parent (55% of all black children, 23% of all white children).

5. Children’s Reactions to Divorce May feel they caused divorce Anger toward parent they think caused divorce Try to re-unite parents Behavior problems Symptoms of physical illness Anger, crying, violent outbursts, withdrawal Academics may suffer

6. Tips for Teachers on Divorce Be consistent with guidance/discipline. Help children feel successful. Encourage children to express their feelings and ask questions. Be on the child’s side, not the side of either parent. Communicate with both parents and keep them involved in your program.

7. Moving 6 million American families move yearly. Children fear separation and abandonment. Moving represents a loss of home, friends, and sometimes family. Many adjustments must be made.

8. Helping Children Adjust to a Move Give honest answers to question and concerns. Take children on visits to new home. Teach children ways to cope and provide information about moving. Welcome children who are new to center, school, and community.

9. Stages of Children’s Understanding of Death Under five: Cannot fully conceive of finality and irreversibility of death. May think their actions caused death. Five to ten years: May feel loss strongly and become concerned about their own death and that of others.

10. Helping Children Cope With Death Explain in words they will understand. Reassure that adults will care for them. Each child grieves in his or her own way. Express your own feelings to children. Let children decide if they will attend service. Help children express their grief through art, writing, dramatic play.