In many adoption programs, the adoptive parents have an opportunity to send a small package to their child-to-be, as a way to "introduce" themselves and let the child know that they have a new family. While small gifts are often a part of this package, often the most important part is the photo album.

Since this photo album will be your child's first look at you, your family, your home and his new life, it is very important. With all of our children, these photo albums have not only been very treasured items, but they have also really seemed to help our children "recognize" us and their new siblings once they were placed with us.

Even Amanda and Belane, who were both young toddlers when adopted, cherished their little picture books and had learned not only "Mom" and "Dad", but the names of their siblings as well.

Creating your child's photo albums is one of the fun things that you can do to help pass the wait.

Here are some tips on creating the perfect photo album for your child.

- Talk to your agency about any specific do's or don'ts they might have, or any guidelines on size, number of pictures or anything else they may have.

- Find the right album. You do not want it to be anything that is too large or too heavy. You also want an album that will hold up to lots of little hands flipping through it repeatedly. You want an album that will protect the pictures and will basically be appropriate for a child.

- Think about the age of your child. If you are adopting an infant or a very young toddler, they make small albums that have "teething edges" and little toys on the handle. They also make plush albums, talking albums and all sorts of varieties.

- Keep pictures simple. What you want are close up, or semi-close-up shots of your child's new family. You don't want lots of background stuff, other people in the pictures, etc., because that can be confusing and distracting.

- Limit how many people you include photos of. I usually recommend that you keep it to the people who live in your home (such as mom, dad and siblings) and possibly grandparents or a couple of other extended family members if your immediate family is very small, or if there is a family member that will be caring for your child or that your child will be seeing very often once they get home. While you want your child to see pictures and learn about all of his extended family and friends, too many new faces, names and pictures at once can be overwhelming and confusing, and there will be plenty of time for your child to meet everyone and get to know his extended family once he is home. Keep the photos in this album to a minimum.

Continued in next post...