What is the role of third parties in the context of adoption discussions?

• A. Parents should inform their child before third parties disclose
• B. Third parties should disclose first
• C. The child should discover via friends
• D. Professionals only should tell

Answer: (A)

Open and timely disclosure by the parents about adoption is the preferred approach. When parents choose to tell their child about their adoption before anyone else does, they control the information, tailor the conversation to the child’s age and understanding, and set a foundation of trust within the family. This early, guided disclosure helps the child form a coherent sense of identity and background, and it reduces the chance of confusion, misinterpretation, or rumors that could arise if a third party disclosed the information first. Third parties should respect the family’s confidentiality and support the parents, not take on the role of the first storyteller. Relying on friends or peers to reveal the adoption story can be unreliable and potentially harmful, and having professionals tell the child exclusively can undermine parental autonomy and ongoing family communication.