It seems the Chinese authorities are reconnecting children with their families if they can be found and, if not, are finding local people to adopt them. This is potentially a creative solution, but there are, of course, several complicating factors.

Caring for your own children can be demanding, caring for someone else’s bereaved children even more challenging. They may experience resentment towards surviving parents and children. It is possible that putting grieving parents with grieving children could help ease their feelings of isolation.

At each stage of their lives children and young people will have new understandings and new questions. This will require access to help from specialists over several years, to equip them with basic listening and communicating skills. Bracketing the scheme into “compensation” may be perceived by the bereaved as an attempt to replace, and cause offence. Equally, it must not become a replacement for monetary compensation.

The adoptive families will also need financial support. The immediate need is to find a supportive local family environment for bereaved children and to keep them safe. I applaud the decision to consult children over the age of 10 — younger children can and should also be involved.

— Anne Davies is founder of Jigsaw4u, a charity that supports children and families

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