If you have children in your extended family or neighbourhood: nieces and nephews, young cousins, etc., make an effort to become more involved with them.
You can baby-sit, provide play equipment in your garden, volunteer to take children for walks, to the playground, ferry them to music lessons, teach them skills you have, help with homework, walk them to school or look after them between school and when the parents come home from work, have them visit you on holiday ... The list is very long.
Especially if you are a single man, you will need to be careful that your actions and motives are not misinterpreted by parents or the children.
These may seem very restrictive, but they are for your own protection, so that circumstances cannot arise where you could be accused of inappropriate behaviour. It is virtually impossible to effectively dispute accusations of child abuse. Even if the accusations are not proven they will inevitably and permanently ruin your chances of adopting.
Next: Chapter VII: Have You Got What it Takes?
© Roger Ridley Fenton