Walk Together

Walk Together focuses entirely on Adoption in the UK. It's to help mothers, fathers, children and everyone involved in the difficult, tumultuous, rewarding, elating roller coaster that can be the adoption before, during and after process in the UK.

Each month we will post a blog centered around a specific adoption topic like addiction, bi-racial adoption, nature VS nurture etc. If you have a specific topic you're interested in, please pop us a message and we'll add it to our content plan.

Understanding ADHD in adopted children: When attention and attachment intertwine

ADHD often has a genetic component, which means that many birth families share the condition across generations. In adoptive families, however, this pattern is different. While a child’s ADHD will not be inherited from their adoptive parents, it is possible that both a parent and a child may live with ADHD independently.

14 minutes ago7 min read

Online safety and adopted children: What parents need to know

Adoptive parenting is already rooted in openness and communication - those same skills are the foundation of digital safety. Your willingness to stay connected, even when the topic feels uncomfortable, is what will ultimately keep your child safest online.

7 days ago7 min read

Why adopted children may be more vulnerable to exploitation - and how we reduce the risks

We use “exploitation” broadly to include criminal exploitation (for example county lines), sexual exploitation, online grooming, financial coercion, labour exploitation, and manipulation linked to substances or radicalisation. We draw on UK and international research and translate it into practical steps for parents and carers, schools, and support networks.

Oct 2411 min read

It takes a village: How extended relatives can nurture adopted children

Being part of an adoptive family isn’t about walking on eggshells or memorising rules. It’s about understanding that every interaction you have - every calm hello, every kept promise - becomes part of how a child learns to feel safe.

Oct 177 min read

Pets and adoption: The surprising role animals can play in a child’s healing

Research has shown that the human-animal bond goes far beyond affection. Animals can support attachment, regulate stress responses, and even influence the chemistry of the human body.

Oct 109 min read

Understanding attachment styles in children: What every parent should know

This blog explores the four main attachment styles: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent (sometimes called resistant), and disorganised. For each one, we look at where it comes from, the science behind it, how it may present in children’s daily lives, and examples of why it might develop - not only through trauma but also through ordinary family circumstances.

Oct 311 min read

When their body says no: Understanding shutdowns, freeze responses and emotional numbing in adopted children

Imagine a child in school being asked to read aloud in front of the class. The task feels overwhelming, and the body reacts instantly. The child stares at the page, unable to move or respond, their system frozen in a protective state. This is not a conscious decision. It is the body’s way of saying, “This is too much."

Sep 268 min read

Adoption advice for supporting your child’s questions about their past

This blog is not about life story tools or theory. Instead, it is about the everyday reality of adoption: the conversations that happen in real time, when a child looks you in the eye and asks something you may not be ready for. Here, we share practical adoption advice grounded in the experiences of UK families, what has worked for them, what they wish they had known earlier, and how you can prepare yourself to respond with honesty and care.

Sep 194 min read

How adoptive parents can talk about difficult or unknown parts of their child’s story

This article offers adoptive parent advice grounded in developmental psychology, attachment theory, and trauma-informed research. Rather than broad suggestions, you will find concrete, emotionally safe strategies to use when creating or revisiting a life book with your child. These approaches help children process emotions, ask questions, and hold uncertainty, while strengthening their relationship with you as their adoptive parent.

Sep 126 min read

What is life story work and why does it matter?

This work is not just about recording facts but about weaving together the meaning of events. It provides children with a safe way to explore their experiences, ask questions, and understand why decisions were made about their care. Done well, it provides the stability and clarity that adopted children need to develop a secure sense of self and to strengthen attachments with their adoptive family.

Sep 510 min read

Adoption in books and stories: The power of written representation

In this blog, we explore how adoption is portrayed across books and stories, both where it falls short and where it shines. We look at common themes and tropes, reflect on how these can affect children’s self-image, and share a recommended reading list to help families find books that affirm adopted children’s experiences.

Aug 296 min read

Adoption on screen: What cinema gets wrong (and why it matters)

In this blog, we explore how adoption is portrayed in popular films - from the negative tropes that persist in cinema to the rare but valuable stories that get it right.

Aug 229 min read

Why sensory regulation matters: Helping adopted children thrive through body-based practices

Sensory regulation is the ability to process and respond to sensory information. It plays a critical role in how children feel, behave, and connect. For adopted children, especially those who have experienced early adversity, this regulation process is often disrupted. Understanding why can help you meet their needs with more clarity and compassion.

Aug 157 min read

What regulation really means for adopted children: A neuroscience -informed guide for parents

egulation, or the ability to manage our emotions and body states, is not just a behavioural skill. It is deeply biological, shaped by the brain, nervous system, and critically our earliest relationships. For adopted children, especially those who have experienced early adversity, regulation can look and feel different. This blog explores why.

Aug 85 min read

The neuroscience of regulation in adopted children

In the last decade, neuroscience has begun to catch up with what adoptive families have been living for years. We now have clearer, more precise insight into how early adversity impacts the developing brain, not just structurally, but in the way children experience emotion, stress, and safety. And just as importantly, we now understand more about what helps.

Aug 17 min read

Supporting young children through contact: A calm and informed approach

For adoptive parents, few things feel as delicate or as loaded as helping a young child navigate contact with their birth family. It is not just about managing logistics or following what was agreed in a contact plan. It is about guiding a child through something they can feel but may not yet fully understand.

Jul 2510 min read

The risks and benefits of direct contact for adopted children

This blog attempts to offer some clarity on the risks and rewards of direct contact. We explore what direct contact really means, when it can help, where it can be harmful, and how to make informed, child-focused decisions that reflect both emotional wellbeing and long-term development.

Jul 186 min read

Navigating letterbox contact: Emotional and practical strategies

In this blog, we explore what letterbox contact really means, how it can affect adopted children, and what you can do as a parent to support your child’s emotional wellbeing throughout. We also offer ten in-depth, practical strategies you can use at home - even if you are feeling unsure or overwhelmed yourself.

Jul 115 min read

Why birth family contact matters: Developmental and psychological perspectives

For many adoptive parents in the UK, the subject of contact with birth family can feel like a minefield. Should we maintain it? Will it...

Jul 45 min read

Understanding pushback: Staying connected when your teen pulls away

Teens begin to ask: Who am I, separate from my family? Where do I come from? What makes me, me? For adopted teens, these questions may feel more complicated, because they involve not only the family they live in, but also the family they lost.

Jun 277 min read