ThoughThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas been available to players for over a decade, even some of the most die-hard fans of the game may be unaware of how surprisingly deep the adoption system is. There are lots of variables and prerequisites before the Dragonborn can adopt a child. In the original release, the only family-building aspect present in-game was the ability to marry an NPC. It wasn’t until the introduction of the secondHearthfireDLCthat adoption became possible as well.
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There are many different children inSkyrimthe player can adopt during their travels, so gamers should have no issue finding the perfect candidate. These children are available for adoption in a number of different ways. Some can be foundhomeless in major cities, and others are found in theHonorhall Orphanage in Riften. Yet, even that latter option has prerequisites that the player must accomplish first. Lastly, there areover a dozen kids that only become available for adoptionafter something happens to their in-game parents or guardians.
Updated June 26, 2025, by Justin Flynn:The addition of the Hearthfire DLC made it possible for players to build and decorate their very own homestead. Not only that, but it also allowed players to fill their in-game homes with children if they chose to pursue adoption. While adopting a child in Skyrim serves to make a house feel more lived-in, it also comes with a few additional bonuses that players wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Children will often give the Dragonborn gifts whenever they return home, and sometimes an adopted child can evenbring home an unusual pet. There are many reasons why adopting a child in Skyrim is a good thing to do, but since the adoption process isn’t made overly clear, some players may struggle with figuring out how it works.
How To Adopt A Child In Skyrim
The Dragonborn will not be able to adopt a child until they have acquired a house of their own. Any house will suffice, so it’s entirely up to the player which property they choose to build or purchase. Once a place of residence has been secured, players will need to eitherpurchase a Child’s Room for the house they boughtorconstruct both a Child’s Bed and a Dresserforthe homestead they built.
Players can build the Child’s Bed and Dresser in their homestead by interacting with theCarpenter’s Workbenchin the room they want their adopted child to sleep in, but those who wish for their child to live ina house they purchasedwill need to approach theStewardwho sold them the house andpurchase a Child’s Room from them directly.
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On top of this, players will also need to complete the"Innocence Lost"quest as part ofthe Dark Brotherhood questline. This quest tasks the Dragonborn with speaking toAventus Aretino in Windhelmand agreeing tokill Grelod The Kind, the owner of the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften. After some time has passed after completing this quest, the Courier will approach the Dragonborn and give them a letter entitled"Consider Adoption,“in which the new owner of Honorhall Orphanage, Constance Michel, will invite the Dragonborn to adopt a child.
So long as the Dragonborn has received the Consider Adoption letter, they can travel to Honorhall Orphanage in Riften andspeak to Constance Michel to begin the adoption process. When the conversation is over, the Dragonborn can approach any of the children in Honorhall Orphanage and speak to them to receive the"I could adopt you, if you want"dialogue option. Whichever child the player chooses can then be found back at whatever home the Dragonborn chose to send them.
All Adoptable Children In Honorhall Orphanage
Players will have the option to choose between four children during their initial visit to Honorhall Orphanage. Each child displays a unique personality, and players are free to speak with each of them before deciding who to adopt.
All Adoptable Children Skyrim’s Cities
If the player doesn’t want to engage with the Dark Brotherhood storyline at all, then there are still several adoption options available. However, just as with the orphanage, the playermust still have a home with a Child’s Bed and Dresser or Child’s Roomin order to adopt them. There are initially just four children in four ofSkyrim’smajor cities: Dawnstar, Solitude, Whiterun, and Windhelm, and all the player must do to initiate adoption is ask about their circumstances and how they ended up where they did.
Other Adoptable Children in Skyrim
If those eight options don’t seem to be the best fit for a specific playthrough, there arefifteen other children that can be adopted. These kids will get sent to Honorhall Orphanage if something happens to their parents. This can either be through the Dragonborn’s actions directly or through Dragon andVampire attacks inSkyrim’scities. It’s worth noting thatif either guards or the child itself sees the Dragonborn killing their parents, adoption will not be possible.
These children includeBraithinWhiterun,AetainSkall Village,BritteandSisselinRorikstead,Clinton LylvieveatDragon Bridge,DortheinRiverwood,EiridatThe Frozen Hearth,ErithatLeft Hand Mine,FrodnarinRiverwood,GralnachatHeartwood Mill,HrefnaatDarkwater Crossing,Knudat Katla’s Farm,Minette ViniusatThe Winking Skeever,SkuliatOld Hroldan Inn, andSvariinSolitude. After the death of their parent or parents, the children will shortly arrive at Honorhall Orphanage with the original four.
Skyrimhas always tried to champion player choice and agency, and the huge amount of adoptable children featured in the game is proof of that. The upcomingThe Elder Scrolls VIcould improveand expand this system in unimaginable ways, in addition to other gameplay systems.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
