Research on children adopted before 6 months of age tends to show that they usually catch up if the home environment is supportive, but it often takes more than a year.

• A. Usually catch up within six months
• B. Usually catch up after a year
• C. They never catch up
• D. They always outperform peers quickly

Answer: (B)

Early adoption leverages developmental plasticity, and a responsive, stable home can support children who experienced early deprivation to progress toward typical development. Research shows that children adopted before six months often catch up, but this progress happens gradually and usually takes longer than six months. In many cases the full catch-up spans more than a year, reflecting the time needed for language, social, and cognitive gains to align with peers. Therefore, the statement that they usually catch up after a year best matches what the data show. The other options suggest an unrealistically rapid improvement, no catch-up at all, or outpacing peers, which do not fit the typical developmental trajectory observed in these cases.