Walk Together

Walk Together focuses entirely on adoption in the UK, supporting mothers, fathers, children, and anyone connected to the adoption journey. We understand that adoption can be emotional, complex, rewarding, and challenging all at once, and our aim is to create a space where every part of that experience is acknowledged.

We publish weekly blogs covering everything and anything to do with adoption: family life, identity, attachment, school, trauma, birth family contact, and the realities of parenting before, during, and after adoption. If there’s a topic you’d love us to explore or an area where you feel more guidance is needed, please get in touch. We’d be very happy to add your ideas to our content plan.

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When the scrutiny doesn't stop | adoptive parents and the weight of social worker expectations

Many adoptive parents also report feeling held to a standard of parenting that goes beyond what would ever be expected of a birth parent. The implication, sometimes explicit and sometimes not, is that because you chose this, because you were assessed and approved and matched, you should be able to manage whatever arises. The reality, of course, is that no amount of preparation fully equips a person for the lived experience of parenting a child with complex developmental traum

7 days ago5 min read

From effort to ease: How regulation changes across development

A young child might become dysregulated by background noise, hunger, waiting their turn, or moving between activities. Transitions that seem minor to adults can require significant effort from a child whose regulatory systems are still developing. When that effort builds without enough support, the child’s capacity is quickly exceeded, and distress shows itself in ways that can look disproportionate to the situation.

Feb 138 min read

Talking about adoption without turning it into “the talk”

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that adoption conversations do not succeed or fail based on wording alone. They are shaped by relationship, consistency, and emotional safety.

Dec 26, 20257 min read

Top ten myths about adoption that still need to be challenged

Adoption attracts opinions. Ask ten people what they think adoption is like, and you will often hear the same phrases repeated: reassuring, simple and usually wrong.

Dec 14, 20257 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 17, 20257 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 19, 20254 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 12, 20256 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 29, 20256 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 22, 20259 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 25, 202510 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 18, 20256 min read