Product Description

"An extremely useful parenting handbook... truly outstanding ... strongly recommended."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"A tremendous resource for parents and professionals alike."
--Thomas Atwood, president and CEO, National Council for Adoption

The adoption of a child is always a joyous moment in the life of a family. Some adoptions, though, present unique challenges. Welcoming these children into your family--and addressing their special needs--requires care, consideration, and compassion.

Written by two research psychologists specializing in adoption and attachment, The Connected Child will help you:

• Build bonds of affection and trust with your adopted child
• Effectively deal with any learning or behavioral disorders
• Discipline your child with love without making him or her feel threatened

"A must-read not only for adoptive parents, but for all families striving to correct and connect with their children."
--Carol S. Kranowitz, author of The Out-of-Sync Child

"Drs. Purvis and Cross have thrown a life preserver not only to those just entering uncharted waters, but also to those struggling to stay afloat."
--Kathleen E. Morris, editor of S. I. Focus magazine

"Truly an exceptional, innovative work . . . compassionate, accessible, and founded on a breadth of scientific knowledge and clinical expertise."
--Susan Livingston Smith, program director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute

"The Connected Child is the literary equivalent of an airline oxygen mask and instructions:  place the mask over your own face first, then over the nose of your child. This book first assists the parent, saying, in effect,  'Calm down, you're not the first mom or dad in the world to face this hurdle, breathe deeply, then follow these simple steps.'  The sense of not facing these issues alone--the relief that your child's behavior is not off the charts--is hugely comforting. Other children have behaved this way; other parents have responded thusly; welcome to the community of therapeutic and joyful adoptive families."
--Melissa Fay Greene, author of There is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7045 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-22
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Library Journal (starred review), April 1, 2007
"...an extremely useful parenting handbook... truly outstanding because of its numerous examples of scripts and phrases that parents can use... this book is strongly recommended."

From the Publisher
A hope-filled resource for parents who have welcomed children: -- From other countries and cultures -- From troubled backgrounds -- With special behavioral or emotional needs

"A tremendous resource for parents and professionals alike." --Thomas Atwood, president and CEO, National Council for Adoption

"A must-read not only for adoptive parents but for all families striving to correct and connect with their children." --Carol S. Kranowitz, M.A., author of The Out-of-Sync Child

"The Connected Child is the literary equivalent of an airline oxygen mask and instructions: place the mask over your own face first, then over the nose of your child. This book first assists the parent, saying, in effect, 'Calm down, you're not the first mom or dad in the world to face this hurdle, breathe deeply, then follow these simple steps.' The sense of not facing these issues alone -- the relief that your child's behavior is not off the charts -- is hugely comforting. Other children have behaved this way; other parents have responded thusly; welcome to the community of therapeutic and joyful adoptive families."

Melissa Fay Greene Author of There is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children

About the Author

Karyn B. Purvis, Ph.D., is the director at Texas Christian University's Institute of Child Development, which hosts the Adoption Project and its Hope Connection camp.

David R. Cross, Ph.D., is the associate director of the Texas Christian University's Institute of Child Development and a professor in TCU's psychology department.

Wendy Lyons Sunshine is an award-winning journalist.

Customer Reviews

A Must Read
This book is a must-read for anyone considering adopting a child. Adopted children have very specialized needs. This easy to read book has so many practical ideas for parents. I actually think every preschool and elementary teacher should read it as well. As an educator, I am wishing I had had some of these strategies to use in the past with students who were foster or adoptive children. A great resource indeed!

I wish I had read this before I adopted my 2 girls from China
Karyn Purvis really understands her subject and what a challenge parenting adopted kids can be. She gives good practical information you can use today to parent kids that had eventful lives before they were yours. I recommend her book highly.

Finally information on attachment you can actually use!
So many books on attachment are clinical and overwhelming. The recommendations seem so impossible to incorporate into your life. Not anymore! These authors offer amazing insight (you'll think they've been living in your house), practical advice, and inspiring commentary. I recommend this book to all foster or adoptive parents. If you know someone who is considering adoption or has recently adopted, you'll want to buy this book for them too!