Adoption - Sensitive language
Use birth mom, birth dad, birth parents and so on. Birth parents or birth family are more appropriate terms because the forever parents are indeed real parents.
Simply say mom, dad, parents, etc. If there is a reason to differentiate between
Adoptive mom, adoptive dad, adoptive family
Say child. When there is a reason to note that a child was adopted the child, use the term forever family.
Real mom, real dad, real parents
Adopted Child
a child's birth family & the family that adopted the child, use the term forever family.
Use developed an adoption plan. This is a positive phrase for a birth mother, father, or family who terminated parental rights.
Use language to clarify it was not the child who was the issue but the circumstance. It is imporant to talk with the family
Avoid the phrase because it implies that adoption is second best to a birth child. Use instead, "The
Needed someone else to be the parent
Couldn't have a child of thier own
Gave up for adoption
family wanted to adopt" or "The family chose adoption."
about how to answer questions related to the birth family and the child's adoption.
6 - 12 months: Fine Motor Skills for Infants
Secures cube on sight, follows adult movement across the room, retains rattle
Persists in reaching for a toy our of reach on table, shows hand preference, bangs spoons
Grasps with thumbs and finger
Pulls string to obtain an object
6 Months
7 1/2 - 8 1/2 Months
7 Months
8 -9 Months
Picks up a raisin with a thumb and forefinger, pincher grasps, pushes the car along
Hits cups wiht a spoon, a crude release of the object
Put three or more objects in a container
10 1/2 - 11 Months
10 Months
11-12 Months
CUL: Adoption - Sensitive Language
C&I Team
Created on March 5, 2026
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Transcript
Adoption - Sensitive language
Use birth mom, birth dad, birth parents and so on. Birth parents or birth family are more appropriate terms because the forever parents are indeed real parents.
Simply say mom, dad, parents, etc. If there is a reason to differentiate between
Adoptive mom, adoptive dad, adoptive family
Say child. When there is a reason to note that a child was adopted the child, use the term forever family.
Real mom, real dad, real parents
Adopted Child
a child's birth family & the family that adopted the child, use the term forever family.
Use developed an adoption plan. This is a positive phrase for a birth mother, father, or family who terminated parental rights.
Use language to clarify it was not the child who was the issue but the circumstance. It is imporant to talk with the family
Avoid the phrase because it implies that adoption is second best to a birth child. Use instead, "The
Needed someone else to be the parent
Couldn't have a child of thier own
Gave up for adoption
family wanted to adopt" or "The family chose adoption."
about how to answer questions related to the birth family and the child's adoption.
6 - 12 months: Fine Motor Skills for Infants
Secures cube on sight, follows adult movement across the room, retains rattle
Persists in reaching for a toy our of reach on table, shows hand preference, bangs spoons
Grasps with thumbs and finger
Pulls string to obtain an object
6 Months
7 1/2 - 8 1/2 Months
7 Months
8 -9 Months
Picks up a raisin with a thumb and forefinger, pincher grasps, pushes the car along
Hits cups wiht a spoon, a crude release of the object
Put three or more objects in a container
10 1/2 - 11 Months
10 Months
11-12 Months