How to mark a friends' recent adoption?

[wb]

Have just heard that some friend of ours have just had 2 children placed with them for adoption (children arrived home with them last week). Wonderful news, which we got by email.

My question is, how do we respond? If she'd had a baby we'd send a card and present so I'm assuming the right thing to do would be to do the same (we are not really close but close enough that they sent cards/cute outfit when our boys were born. We live at different ends of the country so only meet every couple of years).

Anyway, we are truly delighted for them and want to mark the occasion. Can you buy 'congratulations on your adoption' cards? Would it be OK to send presents (maybe not cute outfits as children are a little older but maybe a toy, or special book or something?)

I'm probably overthinking this but any advice/suggestions would be welcome

How about moonpig, u can personalise cards there? And i think it's a nice idea to send a little something, how about this?

What a lovely book dancingmummy!

It depends how old the children are.
If they are under 5 then I feel that gifts are a great idea,
If they are older than this I would be inclined to send a card, but maybe talk to the parents about the suitability of a gift. Just a bit concrened that the children might feel a bit overwhelmed.

thanks marypoppins!

I agree a card and if the children are under 5 get them a lovely book or an outside toy for the summer.

If the children are older what about a £10 odeon voucher if they go to the staurday kids club sessions then the voucher will pay for 2 family trips out (as kids are £2.50 and adults go free).

If you want to give them a family gift maybe a nice photoalbum which they can fill with family photos.

your instinct is right, I'm sure a bard and a gift will be much appreciated

i woudln't do a cinema voucher unless you know that the children can do this. many SN kids dont like the cinema / cant cope

book always a lovely gift IME. if kids are overwhelmed at the beginning them the parents can give it to them later

how old are the children, roughly?

What about a scrapbooking Kit. If the children are young, then the parents can create it as a momento of the children growing up, If the children are older they can work on it as a family, creating special pages of 1st's as a family, first holiday, 1st day at school etc