Helping Your Children Thrive in a New Country

Moving to a new country isn’t something anyone takes lightly, and it’s probably going to be something you only do once in your life. If it wasn’t hard enough for people that don’t have children, you can imagine what it’s like for those who do!

The actual process of moving is more than likely the hardest part for you and your family. Once in your new home, you can begin to settle. However, this is often easier said than done. If you’ve moved your kids with you, how they settle depends a lot on how old they are.

Of course, one of the major reasons many families move to another country is so they can give their children a better start in life, and that begins with education. As parents, we would give our lives for our kids but it’s very easy to forget they have their emotional issues as well.

For example, if you have teens (and I feel your pain), I still remember what I was like! They may appear to be putting barriers up where you think they shouldn’t be. Comments like “I don’t want to go to school, it’s boring”, or “I’d rather stay indoors and play on the computer” are probably things you’ve all heard.

However, it’s important you read between the lines. The first statement could mean they’ve having trouble fitting in, the second could be they’re embarrassed because they’re finding it hard to fit in, and don’t have many friends.

These are just two problems you could come up against, and these are things worth thinking about when you first move. The family unit needs to be as strong as possible. After all, it’s new for everyone. Try to organise your move so the kids have time to take in their new surroundings before the new school term starts. Get the whole family involved in local activities that are connected to the school they’ll be going to.

It’s much easier for children to make friends in a social setting, much like adults. It’s rare we find our best friends through work, rather, we find them through social gatherings and it’s no different for children.

The trick is to make them feel comfortable about mixing with the other kids before its time to start school. 

If they have friends already, fitting in isn’t going to be a problem. Another point worth considering is your children are more than likely going to be a source of curiosity to the local children, and you should make your kids aware this should be welcomed, not shunned.

Kids brains are like sponges, and in most cases, they very quickly adapt to their new surroundings. However, being asked questions about where they come from, why they moved to their new country and what they think of it can put them on the spot.

Talk to your children about how they feel, what they think about why you moved and what they think about their new home. By doing this, you not only help keep the lines of communication open, you’ll help them feel more comfortable about answering these questions when asked. It will also give you an idea of what’s going on in their heads, which is always a good thing!

Lastly, no matter which country you’ve moved to, it’s a good idea to get them interested in the local culture and what the history is. Kids love to explore, and as long as they don’t realise they’re learning something, they’ll be teaching the local children a thing or two before you know it! If you’ve chosen to live in France, why not take a look at http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/moving_to_france.aspx for a bit of background information that might help.