By Lois Melina Parents who learned that it is normal for adopted children to be curious about their origins are sometimes concerned when their children show an apparent lack of interest in the topic. Different children have varying degrees of curiosity about their adoption or their birth families, but there may be explanations other than lack of interest for why some children do not seem to want to talk about adoption.
Some children talk more than others about adoption because they are more verbal.
Parents who are unsure whether their children are fully expressing their interest in their origins might want to look at how their children gather information or express themselves on other topics. A child who tends to be more intense about expressing her feelings may express more intensity about adoption than a child who is more easy-going. While all children have some interest in adoption, they may not be interested in adoption at all times. Parents whose children do not seem interested in discussing adoption may want to consider whether they have been approaching their children at times when their children want to talk about it. Children are more likely to be expressive about their thoughts on adoption if discussions take place at a time when they have questions or concerns or when the subject comes up naturally, perhaps as the result of a casual comment from a stranger, a television show featuring adoption, or something happening in the family.