Age difference in adoption

In the adoption world, it is believed that there are families for children to go to but not for families to pick and choose children to adopt.  In other words, in child adoption, it is the best interest of the child that comes first, and the state made rules accordingly.

One such rule is the age difference requirement to adopt a child.  Sub-regulation 4 of regulation 5 states that the age difference between the prospective adoptive parent and the child must not be less than 25 years.  This means any person who is below the age of 25 years is effectively excluded from adopting a child.

The reasoning behind this is to ensure that adoptive child has family with a mother/ father or both than a sibling.  For example, let’s say a 30-year-old single mother adopts a 15-year-old girl child.  Their age difference is 15 years.  Mental maturity to handle a teenager might be limited in a 30-year-old person than an older individual.  The Dynamics of their relationship could be more of a sister to sister than like a mother to a daughter.