Who Should Read This Book?

Whether you are a new adoptive parent, a foster caregiver, or a professional supporting families, The Connected Child provides insights relevant to your journey. The following groups will benefit greatly:

• Adoptive and foster parents
• Grandparents and kinship caregivers
• Therapists, social workers, and educators working with children from hard places
• Anyone considering adoption who wants to prepare for the realities of parenting a child with trauma history

Although examples centre on younger children, the principles are adaptable for older children and teens with appropriate modifications for developmental stages.

How Can This Book Help Adoptive Families?

Traditional parenting books often overlook the unique challenges that adoptive families face. This guide fills that gap by delving into the underlying causes of behaviour—such as fear, grief, and sensory overload—rather than just managing symptoms. It encourages a shift from “what’s wrong with the child” to “what happened to the child,” nurturing empathy and reducing frustration.

Readers frequently commend the book for its clear, actionable advice and the hope it instils. Many feel better prepared to handle meltdowns, resistance, and defiance with patience and confidence. The book also tends to the parents’ own emotional health, reminding caregivers to practice self-compassion and seek support.

Key Strategies for Connection

At the heart of this book is Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), an evidence-based model developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis. The approach revolves around three core strategies:

• Connecting – Building a safe, nurturing bond through eye contact, gentle touch, and playful interaction.
• Empowering – Meeting sensory and physiological needs such as sleep, nutrition, and sensory processing to promote calmness and regulation.
• Correcting – Applying proactive, teaching-oriented discipline that sidesteps power struggles and fosters self-regulation.

The book offers actionable scripts, sample scenarios, and practical exercises to integrate these strategies into everyday life. It stresses that healing occurs within relationships, and even small, consistent adjustments can lead to meaningful transformations over time.

What Makes This Book Different?

While many parenting books promise quick fixes, The Connected Child explores the neurobiology of trauma and attachment in depth. It clarifies why traditional discipline methods often fail with vulnerable children and presents alternatives that foster trust instead of fear. The book is firmly rooted in practical application, with each chapter concluding with reflection questions and action steps. Families find themselves returning to this resource as their child develops and new obstacles arise.

This book is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional therapeutic support. Results may vary based on individual circumstances.

Overview of the Book

The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family presents a compassionate, research-backed method for parenting children who have faced early adversity, trauma, or attachment disruptions. Authored by Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine, this guide equips caregivers with practical tools to build trust, nurture connection, and create a healing atmosphere at home. The book’s central message is that every child can flourish when carers understand their distinct needs and respond with patience, empathy, and consistent structure.

Whether you are a new adoptive parent or a seasoned foster caregiver, this resource supplies strategies for addressing challenging behaviours, minimizing conflict, and strengthening the parent-child bond. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and research, the authors deliver a roadmap that honours the child’s history while concentrating on present and future growth.

About the Authors

Karyn B. Purvis, PhD, a celebrated developmental psychologist, co-founded the TCU Institute of Child Development. David R. Cross, PhD, serves as a professor of developmental psychology at Texas Christian University. Wendy Lyons Sunshine, an award-winning journalist and author, focuses on health and family topics. Their combined expertise in research, clinical practice, and narrative makes intricate concepts approachable for readers.