On 9th November each year, you may see celebrities, influencers, or people in your community share a photo on social media of a smiley face on their hand. What’s the reason behind the doodle? World Adoption Day.
On this day, people around the world come together to celebrate adoptive families, raise awareness about adoption, and support those on their adoption journey.
This year, at Adopters for Adoption, we’re busting the common myths about adoption that can put people off from considering it as an option to start a family. From why children are waiting for adoption and who can adopt to the adoption process and support, join us to discover what adoption really means and why raising awareness matters.
Why does adoption awareness matter?
There are many misconceptions about adoption, which can put people off from applying. As a result, there is a shortage of adoptive parents for the number of children waiting to be adopted.
Recent figures reveal that between 2024 and 2025, the number of children waiting for adoption increased by 13%, from 2580 to 2910. But the number of people choosing to adopt has fallen, leaving a shortfall of 750, which means children are having to wait even longer to find their forever homes.
Behind these numbers are real children who are living with the trauma of their past experiences. They need loving families who can help them feel safe and secure so they can have the childhood they deserve.
That’s why adoption awareness matters, and why, below, we bust 10 of the most common myths that can hold people back from considering it as a viable option.
10 Adoption myths, busted
Myth: Adopted children are ‘naughty’
Reality: When we use words like ‘naughty’ to describe a child, it sounds like they’re to blame for their circumstances. When, in fact, they’ve had no say in the things that have happened to them and the long-lasting impact it can have on their entire well-being.
The most common reasons a child moves into care are abuse and neglect, which means they are often living with the trauma of their past experiences. This can influence the way they behave, interact with others, and express their needs.
Instead of stigma, which is rooted in a lack of awareness of what these children have been through, they need patience, understanding, and a loving forever home.
When you adopt a child, you provide a foundation for them to be themselves, heal from their experiences, and build a beautiful future.
Myth: Adoption is for younger parents
Reality: Although the average age of adoptive parents in the UK is 38, adopting a child isn’t something reserved for people in their thirties.
To adopt a child, you must be 21 or over, but there is no upper age limit. We review each application on a case-by-case basis and will review your health to ensure you can manage the demands of caring for a child.
We’ll also consider the age gap between you and the child you want to adopt, which means younger children are more likely to be adopted by younger parents and vice versa.
Myth: Only couples can adopt
Reality: Your relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or culture won’t prevent you from adopting a child. But if you’d like to become a single adoptive parent, you’ll need to consider how you’ll manage the responsibilities of parenthood alongside working and other commitments you may have.
We’ll review the flexibility of your employer, along with your financial stability, support network, lifestyle, and whether you intend to date in the future. This will help us understand how a child will fit into your life when you adopt them and how you’ll navigate the challenges of being a single parent.
Myth: Only homeowners can adopt
Reality: It has become increasingly more difficult to own your own home, but the good news is that renting, whether privately or through your local council, won’t prevent you from adopting a child.
All we ask is that you have a spare room, which your child can call their own. You may also need to seek permission from your landlord or local council.
Myth: You can only adopt one child at a time
Reality If you’d like a large family, adopting siblings is a great way to make your dream a reality. It also means that you only have to go through the adoption process once, and the children will already have a familial bond.
You’ll also play a huge role in preventing siblings from separating, which can have a profound impact on their well-being. According to #YouCanAdopt, sibling groups can wait almost a year longer than other children to be adopted. In some cases, if a suitable home isn’t found for the sibling group, children are at risk of being separated from their brothers and sisters.
For more information, check out our blog post – The Benefits and Challenges of Adopting Siblings.
Myth: You can’t adopt if you have a disability
Reality: At Adopters for Adoption, we welcome applicants from all walks of life; having a disability does not automatically disqualify you from adopting a child.
During your assessment, you’ll have a medical review with your GP. This will help us understand your health condition and how it could impact the child or children you adopt.
This medical also benefits you, ensuring that adopting with a disability won’t negatively affect your health either.
Myth: Most children don’t know they’re adopted
Reality: These days, most adoptions are open. Why? Over the years, we’ve learned that being honest with children about their start in life can have a positive impact on their well-being and sense of identity.
Open adoptions encourage children to stay in touch with their birth families either through letterbox contact or by meeting relatives, such as their siblings, in person.
Closed adoptions still exist, and can sometimes be in the best interests of the child, if connecting with their birth family would put them at risk.
Myth: The adoption process is complicated
Reality: The adoption process is designed to safeguard children and find adoptive parents who can provide them with safe, stable, and nurturing homes. It’s vigorous, but at Adopters for Adoption, we streamline the process, which means you could be approved to adopt within six months of your initial enquiry. Here’s a step-by-step of how it works:
- Initial enquiry: Call us on 0800 5877 791, submit an online enquiry form, or email us at [email protected] to discuss adoption in more detail with our friendly and knowledgeable team.
- Register your interest: After a chat with our team, if you’d like to proceed, we’ll send you a Registration of Interest Form (ROI) to complete. The Team Manager at Adopters for Adoption will review your ROI form, and if accepted, you’ll move on to Stage One of the adoption assessment process.
- Stage one: We’ll allocate a social worker to complete your adoption assessment. They’ll meet with you to gather information about you, your life, and the reasons you want to adopt. We’ll complete a DBS check, contact references, and ask you to have your health reviewed by your GP. During stage one of the process, you’ll also complete our ‘Preparation to Adopt’ and ‘First Steps’ training. Your social worker will submit a report with all the information they’ve collected to the agency. You’ll then be invited to start stage 2 of the process.
- Stage 2: Your social worker will visit you five to seven times to explore your life experiences, family background, relationships, and more. You’ll also attend another ‘Preparation to Adopt’ training course. Your social worker will meet your friends and family, obtaining references from them and any significant ex-partners. All the information will be compiled into a report called the Prospective Adopters Report (PAR) and presented to the adoption panel for review.
- Adoption Panel: You’ll attend an adoption panel with your social worker, where panel members will discuss your PAR. They’ll ask you some questions to clarify details in the report. When the meeting’s over, they’ll make a recommendation about your suitability to adopt to the Agency Decision Maker, who’ll make the final decision and approve you to adopt.
Once you’re approved to adopt, we’ll start the searching and matching process to find a child awaiting adoption who’ll fit in well with your family.
Myth: Adoptive parents don’t receive training
Reality: People often assume that when you adopt a child, parenting them will be the same as it would be if you had a birth child. However, most children who’ve moved into care have been victims of abuse and neglect. The effects of these experiences don’t just vanish when they’re adopted, and they need parents with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to help them heal from their past and enjoy their childhood.
That’s why at Adopters for Adoption, we provide in-depth training at both stages of the adoption process. Topics covered in the training sessions include trauma, attachment, understanding adopted children’s backgrounds, loss, separation, and more.
We also offer further training courses on identity, contact, and adoption when you already have children, as well as training for friends and family, so your support network knows how to support you when you welcome a child home.
Myth: Post-adoption support doesn’t exist
Reality: When you adopt with Adopters for Adoption, you receive support throughout your adoption journey. Here’s what this looks like:
- During the process: When you begin the adoption process, you’ll be assigned a dedicated social worker. They’ll support you throughout the process and beyond, offering advice, guidance, and a listening ear.
- Finding a child: Once you’re approved, our family finder will support you in finding the right match for your family.
- Introductions: We’ll be by your side as you first meet your child, and for the weeks following them moving into your home. Our social workers will visit regularly and will identify any additional support you may need on your journey.
- Post-adoption: Once your child has been living with you for 10 weeks or more, we’ll help you apply for an adoption order to transfer legal parental responsibility. We’ll also support you in accessing the adoption support fund, which can be especially helpful if you’re adopting a child with a disability or additional needs. We also organise meetups where you can connect with other adopters in your local area and build a wider support network.
In addition to the support we offer here at Adopters for Adoption, you’ll also receive a 12-month subscription to Adoption UK. And if you’re from the LGBTQIA+ community, you’ll receive free membership to New Family Social. These memberships will provide access to a wide range of resources, guidance, and training courses.
Start your adoption journey today
We hope that this blog has helped clear up any myths you may have heard about who can adopt, adopted children, and the adoption process.
If you’d like to learn more, call us on 0800 5877 791 or submit an enquiry form, and a member of our knowledgeable team will be in touch.
