Jonathan

If you are a family that loves fishing and camping, you will want to learn more about Jonathan. This fun, adorable boy has an avid interest in nature and loves being outdoors. Fishing, thinking about fishing, and preparing for fishing have captured this boy’s heart and imagination. He spends a lot of time tinkering with his fishing tackle and has been asking his social worker to get him some books on fishing; such books could be a great help in boosting his reading skills.

Jonathan also has lots of fun playing in the dirt and looking for bugs to add to his collection. Other favorite pastimes are riding bikes, hiking, and going to the beach and swimming. Jonathan’s group home manager sums it up pretty well by saying, that Jonathan is a “rough and tumble boy” who likes “to finish the day dirty.”

Of course, Jonathan plays video games. And he especially loves to have one-on-one time with favorite adults in his life — he is thrilled when he gets to have their undivided attention. Legally free, Jonathan came into foster care in March 2008.

Jonathan likes school and is now in fourth grade. He has attended the same school for the past two years and is doing well in a self-contained classroom with extra supports in Reading and Math, and speech therapy.

Jonathan’s most significant relationships currently are with his grandparents; he will be counting on his adoptive folks to help him continue to have contact with them.

Given his multiple special needs, Jonathan will need to have a structured, stable adoptive home and a very consistent daily routine with clear rules, limits, and consequences. Parents who have developed behavioral tools and strategies (or who are willing to learn!) will have an advantage in meeting Jonathan’s needs and helping him to realize his best potential.

Patience, kindness, and calmness will be parental traits that Jonathan and his worker will both value. It will be particularly important for his adoptive parent(s) to be able to give Jonathan the time he will need to trust them and begin to form attachments.

Having adoptive parents who share his interests and who will give him tons of one-on-one attention and positive recognition will help Jonathan to feel safe and nurtured. His adoptive folks need to be open to partnering with educational professionals and mental health practitioners to see that Jonathan’s needs are met.

For adoption information, call the Northwest Adoption Exchange at 1-800-927-9411.