Children between eighteen months and three years of age are able to recognize that they are separate individuals. Institutionalized babies spend most of their lives cooped up in a box or crib, simply observing. When they finally climb out, they seek out adults, watching them work, and imitating their motions. They have learned there is no one to go to for comfort if they are hurt or afraid. One of your tasks is to win the child's trust and to prove that you are now there to give aid and comfort.
Children are now able to talk and to understand most of what is being said in their native language.
Suddenly they must learn a new language and a new routine in a new environment. School-age children have all of these challenges and, in addition, must submit to the discipline required for a formal education. Many excellent books address adjustment issues for children of all ages. Adopt Internationally , a hands-on manual loaded with practical information for families who seek to complete an international adoption. The Erichsons are the founders of the Los Ninos International Adoption Center in Texas and the parents of four children adopted from South America.