7 Ways to Prepare Your Child When Relocating With Children

by | Feb 15, 2022 | Global | 1 comment

Relocating with children to another part of the globe is a big challenge for anyone. If you will move with your kids, it can be especially challenging to help them adjust to the move. They may even rebel against you and find it hard to adapt.

If you want to help your kids adapt more easily when you move overseas, here are some tips:

1. Relocating with Children: Prepare Them as Early as You Can

Preparation is half the fun brandless
Preparation is half the fun brandless

Before you move, talk to your kids early on.

Explain the reasons you are moving and try to answer their questions.

Give them time to take in the news.

Be honest. If you don’t have all the information, don’t whitewash or lie, just say you don’t know but you are sorting out the details and will get back to them.

 

 

 

2. Relocating with Children: Teach Them or Learn the Language Together

If you are moving to a country where they speak a different language, why not teach your child the language or learn together? Currently, we are in Malaysia, and given this chance, I learn Bahasa Melayu (the national language) with my 3-year-old child.

This will make it easy for them to communicate when they reach your new home, and it can be a bonding experience.

3. Relocating with Children: Check Out Available Education Options

Make it a fun experience Ashton Bingham
Make it a fun experience Ashton Bingham

You will need to check out which schools are open for your kids when in your host country.

Look for international schools and the curriculum they use.

If your child is still young, try enrolling them in a school that uses the local language so they can practice the language and get used to their new country. If your move is not permanent, international schools are ideal.

If you can’t choose, don’t be afraid to check our forums to get an insider perspective about these schools.

4. Relocating with Children: Always Reach Out to Your Kids

Some kids will find it hard to reach out to you, especially if they know you will be moving.

Open your door to them and let them know you are ready to answer any concerns they may have about the move. Be as honest as you can with them so that your kids will be less worried.

5. Be Positive About Relocating

If you don’t want your kids to be worried when you move, you need to show that you are excited about it. You can tell them about the new opportunities they can try out in your new home, and how it will help them in the future. If they see your excitement, they will share it too.

6. Help Your Kids Plan Their Goodbyes

If you will be leaving your relatives, and if they have friends they wish to stay in contact with, help your kids sort their goodbyes. You can plan a farewell party or collect all the contact details for your kids to use to stay in contact with their relatives and friends.

7. Design Your New Home Like Your Old Home

Keeping things familiar when you move into a new home can ease the unfamiliarity of a new environment.  You can display familiar pieces from your old home that your child can look at like photographs, decorative arts or stuffed toys. You can also let them pack the pieces they want from your old home and put them around the house.

Conclusion

Relocating overseas opens a lot of doors for your child to learn about the world. It may be challenging at first, but if you take the right steps to help them adapt, your child will enjoy all the opportunities open to them in their new home.

Relocating with your children? Let us know how you have helped them adapt.

by: Kally Tay