Running Away: How to Bring Children Home
- natp57
- Jul 13, 2021
- 1 min read
In this episode, Sarah Dillon tells us why traumatized children run away or abscond from loving and caring foster and adoptive families.
She understands this problem in depth both as a professional and because she was once a runner herself.
Sarah tells us children run away for fear-based reasons which do not reflect badly on their foster or adoptive parents.
They may not seriously intend staying away but it is likely that they are trying to make sense of unprocessed trauma.
Her advice is not to make a big deal out of it no matter how anguished you may feel. You need to help them feel it’s not about them but about what happened to them. Sarah mentions these books which listeners may find useful: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting by Sarah Naish The Quick Guide to Therapeutic Parenting by Sarah Naish and Sarah Dillon
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Understanding why children run away is essential for helping them feel safe and supported. Open communication, patience, and a stable environment play a key role in bringing them home. If emotional or developmental challenges are a factor, working with an online speech therapist can provide valuable support, especially for children struggling to express their feelings. Building trust and offering guidance without pressure can make a difference, ensuring kids feel heard and understood while finding solutions that strengthen family connections.