[kretzklan]

Hello all -
I am addressing the issue of attachment with Cole and Delaney's teachers and staff at their school. I was taken off-guard by a classroom volunteer in Cole's room who said "oh, I just love him...he kisses and hugs everyone he sees"!!! I had felt things were going well...but this was a big red flag to me. I sent a in-depth email explaining attachment parenting and the fact that laying a great foundation of a loving family was the most important thing we can all do for them right now. So far, the response has been great. They really want to be educated on this topic and are VERY open-minded. They have replaced hugs and kisses with high fives and sticker rewards. I've also talked to the children about appropriate touching and how their hugs and kisses are so AWESOME that I want them to be saved for Mom, Dad and brother/sister only right now.
Here is my question - one of the teachers asked for reading materials that may help her understand how to better "reach and teach" a PI child. Delaney is doing wonderfully in school and she finds it hard sometimes to remember that D may need different things than other children. I don't want Delaney or COle to be "different" every second of every day...but I want to offer resources that could really help. Any articles you know of or have used with your schools? I know that many of you have gone up this hill and survived - I'll keep whatever I get as the kids will be transitioning back to our community school next year!

[KiraLin]

If you google, attachment disorder school and teacher all at the same time it will lead you to some of the things you are asking about. I would give direct links but some of them sell products/books so it would be a tos violation. PM if you have any problems/questions. I did a training on attachment at the school I worked at last year so I know I have some other stuff around here somewhere that I gave out.

[Jim_in_PA]

I can't help with the "tools" question (outside of our normal stearing of folks to Debra Gray's book, Attachment in Adoption, but for anyone putting an older adopted child in school, "the letter" should be given to the school before the child(ren) start attending. We did that to insure we had complete understanding from everyone (that we could identify) who would be in contact with our girls. The letter is also in their official files. The letter addressed both the do's and don'ts as well as offered assistance in identifying reading materials on attachment. So far, to the best of our knowledge, we have had complete compliance with the teachers, staff and aides.