It is not easy to move to a foreign country. This move usually implies that you will be miles away from your home surrounded by people from a different culture. For an adult, this might not pose a problem. However, what if you have children? Depending on their age and personality, some children will not take the news well. For this reason, you should prepare children for moving overseas.
Have a discussion with them
As you are a parent, it is solely your decision to move. For this reason, you should explain to your children the reason for the move. Some children will not respond well to the news since they will only focus on the frightening aspects of the move. That’s why you as a parent need to be there to assure them that the move is actually beneficial to the whole family. Additionally, you should be patient and prepared to answer their questions as truthfully as possible. Good communication is crucial in order to prepare children for moving overseas.Get them involved
Getting your kids involved is a good way to prepare children for moving overseas. Once you decide upon the country, then do the research together. Luckily, everything is available on the Internet. Together with your children, look for interesting information about the culture and history of your destination. For example, if you are moving to Hawaii from Europe, then you can read about Hawaii traditional dances and food. Your children might like what they see, which will make them excited for the move. Additionally, you can make a game out of this. Give them a small task to find out the most unique facts about that foreign country. You will get to spend some quality time with your children while doing something productive.Buying a house
If you still have not bought a house, then you can do it together with your children. Long-distance home buying can be complicated since you cannot visit the house and see it yourself. However, many people bought their house without seeing it in the person. You can ask your children what they would like for a house. Here is a chance to work together. Your children will be active participants, which might change their negative opinion about moving. Additionally, if they have some specific requests for the house, you can try to fulfill those wishes.Schools in a foreign country
Finding a suitable school for your kids should be your priority. Here is the way to do it.- Start with research as early as possible
- You can contact international schools and get additional information
- Try to find the school with a similar curriculum
- Some schools have the waiting list so make sure to start on time
- Involve your children in this process as well
- Some schools offer buddy programmes or they can help your children to find a pen pal
- Think carefully about the school location and try to find one that is closer to your home
- If you are moving to the non-English speaking country, then see if schools have language courses. You can even start with language learning even before the move