Children living abroad have a different perspective on life and the culture when they return home. For those who live in several different countries at a young age, they may pick up various cultural differences, such as foreign languages, a sophisticated palate and a higher tolerance for those who look and sound differently. As children grow up, however, they may sometimes have a difficult time adjusting to a relocation. While living in another country may be exciting for some family members, it might be upsetting or stressful for others. Age, close friends, pets, languages and parental availability may have an impact on how children feel about moving. How they feel about moving and living abroad will impact how well they adjust. There are a number of ways to help children warm up to the idea of living abroad before an actual move.
Maps
Pulling out a globe or a map is one way to help children see where they're going in relation to where they are now. This is helpful in familiarizing them with some of the travel arrangements, explaining the weather differences, foreign languages, time zone changes compared to their family and friends and orienting them to where they are and where they will be.
Health
The idea of moving to a far away place can be frightening for younger children and parents, but for different reasons. While children are concerned for the unknown, parents may be concerned about the child's health and safety. Shots and immunizations can keep children from contracting illnesses and diseases that have been all but forgotten as a threat for years in some countries, but are a true threat every day in others. International health insurance plans will likely cover the cost of immunizations and physicals, and parents should explain to children old enough to understand that they need to go to the doctor's office before the trip. A discussion about how that might be different from the doctor's office they go to once they've moved can also be helpful to prepare children for differences.
Education
Going to a new school is often an exciting event that can make kids a little nervous. If the family is moving to the new location before school goes in session, there will be extra time to coordinate school records, immunizations, physicals and other requirements. It will also give them a chance to meet some new children in the neighborhood before meeting a room full of new classmates. While a new school can be a nervous experience for children, preparing them in advance can make it a positive one as well. If parents know which school their children will be attending, it might have a website they can visit with the kids to make it a little more familiar. Consider language lessons beforehand if the child needs to learn a new one.
When relocating a family abroad, parents should be sure to fill out the appropriate paperwork to secure international insurance either through an employer or individually. This can cover international health insurance, as well as property insurance for the family's possessions en route and upon arrival.
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