Let the Adventure Begin! A Week-by-Week Guide to Moving Abroad
7 Weeks Until Overseas Move: Moving with Kids Abroad - Preparing Your Children & Teens for the Big Move
The Big Transition for Expat Kids
International moves can provide incredible experiences for kids of all ages -- a new culture, new language, new foods and exotic sights can truly be life changing. It can impact their lives more than you could ever imagine -- affecting their future studies, career choices, where they decide to live as adults, their relationships and how they decide to raise their own children.
But, the reality is that moving your family abroad can be incredibly challenging. In fact, family issues are the number one reason for failed international assignments. But, if you're willing to do the work required to help your family successfully navigate this major transition, you can succeed abroad. In fact, you can even flourish as a family abroad!
You probably have many questions running through your mind. Is your upcoming move going to be good for your kids? Will they adapt? With they be happy? What if they are unhappy? Luckily, there are millions of expats who've successfully moved their families abroad. Login to our country forums to talk with other parents about moving and living abroad. Ask them how their kids handled the transition, if they have suggestions for you and your family, and, if they live in the same city that you'll be heading to -- suggest getting together once you've arrived. Helping your kids connect with their first friends abroad helps tremendously!
"Kids love stability. Sometimes all that means is finding one buddy, or one activity to latch on to. Do everything you can to stay by their side until that is established. If you don't help them find it, they're liable to drift, or resent their move, or act out - all with reason," advises one expat parent of young children.
If you have school-aged children and your kids will be enrolled before the move, talk with their new school about helping with the transition. Many have formal programs in place for the first few weeks of school -- a buddy system is often used. But, ask if they can help before the move as well. Seeing photos of the school, exchanging e-mails with future classmates and talking with a teacher for a few minutes on the phone, can all be incredibly comforting and help your child or teen begin to develop a sense of connection to your new home abroad.
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Betsy Burlingame is the founder of ExpatExchange.com. She launched ExpatExchange.com in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at New York University. Over the last 11+ years, ExpatExchange.com has become one of the largest and most well-respected online communities for expatriates and international transferees.
This is an excerpt of our free e-newsletter, Let the Adventure Begin!. For full access, please subscribe to the e-version of Let the Adventure Begin! (free). You'll receive (free) weekly e-newsletters starting 8 months before your approximate move date and running through your first four months abroad.
