6 Tips for Relocating Parents :
1 . Keep the lines of communication open
The first and most fundamental step is open communication with your children . Kids of a very young age are surprisingly perceptive and will detect very soon when change is afoot . Ensure they hear the news about the international move directly from you rather than coming across it whilst rustling through papers in their father ’ s home office or overhearing whispered conversations .
2 . Pre-empt their fear of change and the unknown
Encourage your children to openly express their feelings about the move , be they positive or negative , and you will be able to alleviate unnecessary worries and prepare them for what lies ahead .
If fear of change affects adults , imagine how children must feel : What will my new school / home be like ? How can I make new friends ? Can I continue my music lessons ? Will I get into the football team ? What ' s the new uniform like ? What educational options will my new school offer ? The list is endless and will be different for each of your children and for each age group of child .
Help them understand that it is normal to have these concerns and reservations and that you will do everything you can to alleviate the anxiety they are experiencing before the actual move to the new location .
3 . Take a look and establish territory
A family visit to the new destination will most certainly alleviate much of the fear of the unknown . There is nothing better than to be able to visit the new school in person to meet new classmates and discover what subject options and extracurricular activities are on offer . Although corporate budgets rarely stretch to preview trips for the entire family these days , if the cost is not out of the question and the destination not too far away , it would be money very well spent to plan a couple of days on a self-funded family familiarisation visit .
A site visit not being possible , a virtual tour could be arranged . Check out the new school ' s website together with your child so as to familiarise them with the layout , as well facilities and extracurricular activities . Fear of getting lost in the new school grounds will soon dissipate if they can study a plan of the layout before the dreaded first day as the new kid on the block .
When on your home-finding trip , share photos and videos of the selected property , so the children can visualise their new home and start planning how they ' d like their own rooms to be organised . A sense of having their individual space and territory will do a lot towards making the child feel settled about the move . Let them share in choosing colour schemes and find out which items in your present home they would particularly like to bring with you .
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