When it comes to moving overseas, the youngest members of your family are likely to be the ones that experience the most stress and may have the most trouble acclimating to their new country. Many kids and teenagers just don’t want to move away from their schools, friends, and everything else that they know.
Relocating internationally can be especially tough for the teenagers. As you might remember, the teen years are usually the most volatile when it comes to peer relationships, activities and social issues. What can you do to make the international relocation a little easier to handle for your kids?
The key, according to many moving experts, is to talk. Include your kids in all moving issues and listen to what they have to say. Be sure to explain to them why the family has to move in the first place. It is also a good idea to mention your new home frequently, and always in a positive respect.
Because moving can be hard on the kids, even when moving within state lines, it might be a good idea to urge your children to keep an address book. They should gather the email addresses, phone numbers and mailing addresses of their friends, families and teachers, so that they can keep in touch as much as they want.
Smaller children may want to get involved directly – so let them. Let the younger children help pack up their own rooms, choose the color of their walls in their new bedroom, and discover new activities in the new country. At this time, a little fun and research can definitely go a long way.
Jon Huser
