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We refer to a lot of things that we’ve found useful in our blog, that we ourselves as adoptive parents have used with our children in the last half a decade that they have been with us. This page therefore pulls all of this together for easy reference. Hopefully you’ll find some of these things useful as well.
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A Guide to Attachment by John Timpson
Buy at TimpsonsYes, the same J Timpson who replaces your watch batteries and fixes your shoes is a Foster dad and has written this great little guide to attachment. -
A Safe Place for Rufus by Jill Seeney and Rachel Fuller
Buy at AmazonA nice children's book that explores the need for adopted and foster children to find a place in their new home they can feel safe and comfortable. -
Adventure Play Tent with tunnel – Outdoor and Indoor
Buy on AmazonAdventure Play Tent with tunnel – Outdoor and Indoor -
All Kinds of Fears: a Lift-the-Flap Book by Emma Brownjohn
Buy on AmazonEmma Brownjohn does a solid job of helping you and your child / children understand fears and how to over come them in this lift-the-flap book. -
All Kinds of Feelings: a Lift-the-Flap Book by Emma Brownjohn
Buy on AmazonWe found this book extremely helpful when we were exploring anger and jealousy with our adopted children. It's a fun and engaging book for children. -
Approval: Hand Family Tree
£1.99 Read moreA family tree on the front made of colour child's hand prints. It read's 'You're approved!' on the outside and 'High five' inside. -
Approval: Stamp Approved
£1.99 Add to basketInside it reads "You've wished and you've waited and the time is finally here, you've been approved to adopt a child so tender and dear.". -
Brain-Based Parenting by Dan Hughes & Jonathon Baylin
Buy on AmazonAn amazing book by Daniel A. Hughes & Johnathan Baylin that we've found a real boon and a bible for us, sharing a different way to parent adopted children. -
Children’s Castle Play Tent (Blue)
Buy at AmazonPlay tent as a 'safe place' for your adopted child. Can be good with the book 'A Safe Place for Rufus'. -
Children’s Castle Play Tent (Pink)
Buy at AmazonPlay tent as a 'safe place' for your adopted child. Can be good with the book 'A Safe Place for Rufus'. -
DK Readers – Lego Friends: Summer Adventures by Catherine Saunders
Buy on AmazonThe DK Readers books have always been good for younger kids. There is a huge range of Lego one's now too, like this Lego Friends book. -
First Steps in Parenting the Child Who Hurts by Caroline Archer
Buy at AmazonAnother book that has made such a difference to us. In this one Caroline Archer covers how to care for adopted Tiddlers & Toddlers with trauma. -
Folding Trampoline
Buy on AmazonGalt Toys 6850008 Folding Trampoline -
Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind
Buy on AmazonThe Gro Company Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind -
Gro-Clock Sleep Trainer
Buy on AmazonThe Gro Company Gro-Clock Sleep Trainer -
Handprint family tree in frame
Buy at Not On The HighstreetAn opportunity to capture the hand prints of the immediate family. As we don’t get to capture their baby foot or hand prints this is a great memory that involves all of the family. -
I Feel Angry (Your Emotions) by Brian Moses
Buy on AmazonAlong with 'All kinds of feelings' this book was super helpful when our eldest started to feel anger towards the birth parents for their neglect. -
Ikea Children’s Tent – CIRKUSTÄLT
Buy at IkeaIkea Children's Tent - CIRKUSTÄLT -
International Adoption: Global family child’s drawing
£1.99 Add to basketThis card is specifically for those adopting from overseas. Inside it reads "Though they've come from far away, your love for them will never stray, we welcome your child to your Forever Family!". -
It Wasn’t Me! – Learning About Honesty by Brian Moses
Buy on AmazonAll parents will go through this, but adopted children often carry an extra level of shame when they've done something wrong. This book can help them accept responsibility in a healthy way. -
Little Children’s Travel Activity Book by James Maclaine
Buy on AmazonOne from our blog, this is a nice little book full of activities which is a perfect companion on long journeys or just for general distraction whilst waiting for appointments or in restaurants. -
Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox
Buy on AmazonLittle Tikes Turtle Sandbox -
Little Tikes Whale Teeter Totter – Blue
Buy on AmazonLittle Tikes Whale Teeter Totter - Blue -
Melissa & Doug See-Inside Alphabet Wooden Peg Puzzle
Buy on AmazonA great little pre-school gift for adopters of younger children. Many adopted children may have missed out on early days learning, this can help them catch up. -
Name Day Card: Hand Family
£1.99 Add to basketA little family being shown and the four fingers of a hand. Inside the card is left blank. -
Naming Day Card: Heart
£1.99 Add to basketOur naming day heart card is one of our most colour greetings cards. Inside it reads "Adoption is just another word for Family!". -
Naming Day Card: Tree
£1.99 Add to basketNaming day tree made of family names: Inside it reads "Congratulations on your naming day". -
Next Steps in Parenting the Child Who Hurts by Caroline Archer
Buy at AmazonWe borrowed this book from our amazing Social Worker before buying our own copy and found some really practical advise here. This one covers Tykes and Teens. -
Nursery Rhymes and Finger Puppets
Buy on AmazonWe had a huge amount of fun with these nursery rhymes and finger puppets, the kids would want them read a few times a day, picking the puppet for the rhyme they wanted to hear. -
Papercut names family tree
Buy at Not On The HighstreetNot on the Highstreet have a range of unique gifts. This beautiful and elegant take on a family tree uses paper cutouts of the names of the new Forever Family! -
Photo book
Buy at PhotoBoxWe produce a book every year for our kids, showing what we've done in the last year since we became a family. Memories are much better on paper than on a screen. -
Placement Card: Couple adopting two children
£1.99 Add to basketThis card is for a couple adopting two children. Inside it reads "You'll be a Forever Family forever more!". -
Placement Card: Family paper cutouts
£1.99 Add to basketThis is a simple card with a paper cutout family on the front and a tree. Inside the card is blank. -
Placement: Couple adopting one child
£1.99 Add to basketThis card is for a couple adopting one child. Inside it reads "We welcome the addition to your Forever Family!". -
Placement: National Adoption Week Card
£1.99 Add to basketNational Adoption Week Awards card. Inside: "We're so glad we found you. Welcome home!". -
Placement: Owl family tree / nest
£1.99 Add to basketA family of owl's feathering their nest. The card is blank on the inside. -
Placement: Single female adopter
£1.99 Add to basketSingle female adopter card. Inside it reads "You're no longer a family of just one!". -
Placement: Single male adopter
£1.99 Add to basketSingle male adopter card. Inside it reads "You're no longer a family of just one!". -
Plant a tree
Buy at Not On The HighstreetPlanting a tree is a great way for a family to celebrate their togetherness. As their love grows so does the tree! What a wonderful way to celebrate a naming day. -
Punch Balloons with Elastic
Buy on AmazonPunch Balloons with Elastic (PK10) -
Punching Balloons (x20)
Buy on Amazon1 pack of 20 punching balloons with elastics! Biodegradable Latex Balloons Punch Balloons Children Love These not suitable for children under 4 These vibrant coloured punch balloon come in assorted colours Biodegradable Latex Balloons Punch Balloons Children Love These not suitable for children under 4. Handy Hint: Add rice to balloon before blowing up to […] -
Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph
Buy on AmazonAdoptive children often exhibit an emotional age way below their physical age, knowing what is 'normal' for a child as he goes through his life stages is very useful. -
Raising Girls by Steve Biddulph
Buy at AmazonRaising Girls by Steve Biddulph is similar to Raising Boys. Whilst we've not read this one, we can imagine it'll give insights just as useful. -
Related by adoption by Hedi Argent
Buy at AmazonRecommend by BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering), this is a great one for parents and siblings of adopters to read before being introduced to your adopted children. -
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids
Buy on AmazonSamsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids -
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Kids Mindfulness Exercises
Buy on AmazonA book and 60-minute audio CD teaching mindfulness exercises to help your children (Ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration and handle difficult emotions. -
Skip Hop Treetop Friends Owl Activity Toy (Hug & Hide)
Buy on AmazonSkip Hop Treetop Friends Owl Activity Toy (Hug & Hide) -
Spark Learns to Fly by Judith Foxon
Buy at AmazonA favourite of our children's therapist, an adoption specific children's book that looks at a troubled family but demonstrating that happy endings are possible. -
Spark the Dragon puppet (toy)
Buy at AmazonSpark the Dragon puppet to go with the book Spark Learns to Fly by Judith Foxon. -
The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Tony Ross
Buy on AmazonAn absolute classic book that came in handy when our eldest went through a phase of lying to cover up the shame he felt about getting things wrong or being naughty. -
The Gruffalo 7 inch soft toy
Buy on AmazonBoth our children have Gruffalo soft toys and both the books, they were absolute favourites for cuddles with the stories night after night after night after night... he he! -
The Huge Bag of Worries – Worry Eater Soft Toy – Junior Flint
Buy at AmazonWorry Eaters are great toys for adopted children who often worry about many things, including their birth family or siblings that may be placed elsewhere. There is a large range of worry eaters. This is one of our favourites. A good toy to have along with Virginia Ironside's book the Huge Bag of Worries. -
The Huge Bag of Worries – Worry Eater Soft Toy – Junior Pomm
Buy at AmazonWorry Eaters are great toys for adopted children who often worry about many things, including their birth family or siblings that may be placed elsewhere. There is a large range of worry eaters. This is one of our favourites. A good toy to have along with Virginia Ironside's book the Huge Bag of Worries. -
The Huge Bag of Worries – Worry Eater Soft Toy – Kid Fips
Buy at AmazonWorry Eaters are great toys for adopted children who often worry about many things, including their birth family or siblings that may be placed elsewhere. There is a large range of worry eaters. This is one of our favourites. A good toy to have along with Virginia Ironside's book the Huge Bag of Worries. -
The Huge Bag of Worries – Worry Eater Soft Toy – Kid Limo
Buy at AmazonWorry Eaters are great toys for adopted children who often worry about many things, including their birth family or siblings that may be placed elsewhere. There is a large range of worry eaters. This is one of our favourites. A good toy to have along with Virginia Ironside's book the Huge Bag of Worries. -
The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside
Buy at AmazonAdopted children will often carry around many more worries than you realise. This can affect mood and behaviour. Read this book with them to help them let some of their worries go. -
The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name book
Buy at Lostmy.nameAn absolutely beautiful, personalised book for your adopted boy or girl. We bought these for our kids when we gave them middle names. Beautifully written and drawn gifts. -
The Teazles’ Baby Bunny
Buy at AmazonThe Teazles' Baby Bunny was a book we used for cousins of our adopted children and the neighbour's children to explain how we went from two single people to a family of toddlers in a short space of time. -
Tidlo Musical Instrument Set (14 Pieces)
Buy on AmazonMusic Therapy became a big part of our early attachment to our children. Sometimes making noise together and bonding over sound is just the perfect thing to do. -
Touch and Feel books – the Gruffalo
Buy at AmazonA much loved Julia Donaldson book in our house (we had all of her books in the end). This one is especially good for younger children and helps with sensory development. -
Waterwheel Play Table
Buy on AmazonWaterwheel Play Table -
What Every Parent needs to Know
Buy at AmazonAlso recommended by our Social Worked, this book is a fascinating read for all parents, not just adopters and foster parents. Margot Sunderland provides some amazing insight. -
Your time
Absolutely FREE!Quite honestly, the greatest gift you can give an adoptive parent who's partner has returned to work, is your time. Just pop round for a chat and a coffee, it'll help.