Words and how we use them can greatly affect
others - especially children. Adoption can be a very sensitive
topic and it's important to use positive adoption language
(PAL). Once you announce your plans to adopt a child, you'll
most likely hear many outdated terms used by people who don't
realize that phrases like 'real or natural parents' are offensive.
In fact, society in general, really doesn't understand adoption
and many people have misconceptions about it.
By using positive adoption language, we
educate others about adoption and hopefully the misconceptions
surrounding adoption can become a thing of the past.
Positive Language
Negative Language
Biological or
birth parent(s)
Real parent(s),
natural parent(s)
Parent
Adoptive parent
Birth child
Own child or
natural child
My child
My adopted child,
a child of my own
Child with special
needs
Damaged child,
hard-to-place child
Was adopted
Is adopted
Make an adoption
plan, choose adoption
Give up child,
give child away, surrender the child
