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Our final set of questions will focus on the child’s behavioral and school issues, how the child feels about adoption and other miscellaneous questions.
Behavior
• What is personality and disposition like? What does child do to express pleasure, anger? Reaction when denied something?
• How does child get along with parents? Relatives? Any favorites or preferences for individuals or women vs. men?
• If there are siblings, how do they get along? (Please include biological and foster siblings)
• How does the child get along with other children? Age group or gender used to or prefers as playmates? Used to playing alone or with others?
• What are favorite toys, games, activities?
• Prefers playing indoors or out?
• Any favorite books or stories?
• How much time is spent watching television? What programs are watched regularly? Any problems regarding restricting time spent watching, or programs selected?
• Does child play video games? If so, what kind? How long?
• Any special behavior such as temper tantrums (and what specifically does child do then), breath holding, nail biting, head banging, fear of people or things, etc.?
• Any aggression toward other children or pets?
• What discipline is used? What is most effective and what does not work?
• Physical development- does child have good muscular development and coordination or awkward, clumsy, etc.?
• What do they like to do with their spare time?
• Play alone or with others?
• What kind of play do they avoid?
• Special interests, favorite toys, favorite TV shows?
• Specific likes/dislikes?
• Any sports or organized activities?
School age child: (Indicate grade)
• What hour does child leave for school and return?
• How does child get to school? (walk, bus, driven?)
• Lunch arrangements: take lunch, school lunch, comes home?
• Any problems regarding school? (ex: does child go willingly? Hard to get up in the morning? Fail to come straight home?)
• Favorite or particularly disliked subjects or teachers?
• In regular or special education class?
• Have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? If so, why? When was it last updated?
• Academically, are they strong, average, weak?
• How well do they get along with teacher, other kids?
• Any areas of concern or struggle?
• Learning disorders?
Special services
• Does child receive any special therapy? (Ex: physical therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration) How often? Does child handle therapy well?
• Who is therapist?
• Additional comments- Is there anything else that would help us understand and transition the child?
Adoption issues
• What does the child understand about adoption? Foster care?
• Has the child mentioned what they would like in a family?
• Has the child been told about adoption and what that would mean to their situation?
• How does the child feel about being adopted?
• When it is time to move the child, are there any items that you may already know we will need to have in our home? (Items like bikes, scooters, toys, etc.)
• Is there anything you would like to know about us to help you prepare the child when the time comes?
Miscellaneous
• Right or left handed?
• Is child used to house pets? If so, what kind and how does child treat them? Any fears of animals? Any issues of animal cruelty?
• Is child used to attending Sunday school or church? If so, which church? How frequently? How does child handle service?
• Are pictures of family, relatives, friends available which can go with child?
• What if any household tasks does child do? Regularly, only if reminded, or under protest?
• What names have special meaning to the child and who are they? Please list and identify (ex: neighbor, playmate, neighborhood bully, relative, pet, etc.)
• What are child’s strengths?
• What are child’s most bothersome behaviors?
Hopefully these lists of questions will help you get to know your child better and make the transition into your home easier for all of you.
