Adding a family to the equation may add challenges to your move abroad, but overcoming these hurdles offers opportunities for growth, exploration and learning for you and your kids. Proactive planning and support can make moving abroad with children a rewarding experience.
Start your move abroad by encouraging children to engage with the process.
Involve your kids in the relocation process early to ease the transition to a home abroad. Participation helps them understand more about the purpose and expectations around the move, empowering them to be part of the move and not just along for the ride. Foster excitement around the move and give them things to look forward to in their new home, such as choosing their room and decor.
It's natural for kids to worry about the changes involved in a big move. Encourage open communication where they can express and receive validation for their feelings, such as things they might miss or are nervous about. Help them understand that change can be scary and exciting, and remind them they can stay connected with friends and family back home.
Activities that create opportunities for kids to express their feelings and say goodbye to their old home include:
Routine and familiarity provide an emotional anchor and can help ease an international move. Keep daily schedules as consistent as possible during the move to maintain normalcy and reduce anxiety. Regular bedtimes, foods and activities can help your children feel more grounded and assured.
Organize a travel box or assorted cherished belongings your kids can keep with them during the move. Whether a favorite stuffed animal, letters from friends or another treasured belonging, these items help children feel like they're taking part of their old home with them.
Opportunities for social and cultural connection help ease the transition to life in a new country.
Making friends in a new country can be difficult, especially if your kids don't share a common language with the local children. Encourage your kids to join activities that align with their hobbies and interests to facilitate socialization and connection. Research activities they may enjoy, such as after-school groups, art classes or sports teams. Your social connections can also help your kids make friends. Get to know coworkers, neighbors and other parents, and arrange group gatherings where your kids can meet and become friends.
Old friends from back home may help boost your kids' confidence as they make friends in their new country. Facilitate messaging, video calls or other methods of communication that allow them to stay connected.
Learning the local culture and language can enhance kids' experiences abroad. This immersion helps with social integration and supports a sense of belonging. You might encourage learning with these activities:
Settling in a new country takes time, and open communication remains important after the move to prioritize your kids' emotional well-being. Check in with your kids routinely to see how they feel as they adapt to their new home. Listen to and validate their struggles so they can process their feelings, and share examples and ideas for overcoming changes to build their confidence.
You can frame your relocation as an adventure to foster excitement in your kids.
The way you frame your move may have a significant impact on how your kids see it. Model a mindset that shows positivity and excitement without dismissing their fears, highlighting how these changes are opportunities for growth and new adventures. Show your kids photos and maps of your new home and nearby amenities and landmarks.
While living in a new culture can be challenging, kids often experience significant personal growth. These transitions help them develop adaptability, problem-solving and empathy skills, especially as you collaborate and communicate about your move.
Keep the sense of adventure going by taking your kids to explore when you arrive in your new country. Consider ways to discover their new home, such as visiting local landmarks, nature parks, museums and other attractions. Take advantage of weekends and holidays with short trips to surrounding areas. Every instance of exposure to unfamiliar customs, foods and lifestyles enriches children's worldviews, sense of adventure and cultural appreciation.
Maintain family traditions during your time abroad to provide stability throughout major transitions, such as celebrating holidays from home or other special occasions. Integrate new traditions with the old ones as you make new memories in your home abroad. Acknowledge positive milestones for your move, such as your first month in your new home.
Try these ideas to blend traditions from home with your new environment:
While moving abroad with kids presents unique challenges, these transitions can be rewarding when paired with thoughtful strategies that involve your kids in the moving process, address their emotional needs and celebrate the adventure of living abroad.
Atlas International provides comprehensive moving services that support you throughout your move, letting you focus on your family's needs. Contact Atlas International to learn more about family-friendly relocation assistance and get a free quote.