Some adoptees struggle to maintain a connection to their culture. Knowing and being involved with the culture of their home countries can allow them to feel a sense of self, their past, heritage, and their birth families. There are ways for adoptive parents to help the adoptee learn and feel connected to their culture.

The culture needs go beyond foods, material things, holidays, and language. Not that these things are not important to the adoptee’s culture but you can make it so much more.

Culture camps can be a great benefit for two reasons, one learning more details about their cultures. The best reason is the meeting other children of the same culture. Being with other children that have some of the same feelings, thoughts, and the need to explore the past through learning about their culture can be a great benefit to adoptees.


Some other areas of the adoptee’s culture not to overlook are music and dance.

Festivals can be a wonderful way for adoptees to experience the culture and heritage. Festivals cover so many different areas from music, traditions, foods, dancing, crafts, games, etc. This can open a door into an adoptee’s culture, things that he or she may never have experienced.

Bedtime stories can be a great way to incorporate the adoptee’s culture on a regular basis. At adoption.com you can find some children’s books addressing being different and different cultures.

Adding or celebrating the holidays of the adoptee’s culture can be a blessing for the entire family. You can always include parts of their holiday cultures in your family holidays and traditions.

Kazakh Aul of the United States helps children and parents establish a connection to the adoptee’s culture with summer camps and information on festivals that celebrate the culture of Kazakhstan.

Please share how you or your families have included the adoptee’s culture into the family.


Camps and festivals

Camps at adoption.com

More reading:

Honoring Roots

Culture shock in birth countries