Moving abroad with a family presents its own set of challenges. No matter how old your children are some amount of preparation ahead of the move is best. Here are some tips for moving your kids abroad.

• The Joy of Discovery

Give your kids a sense of destination: something to look forward to in the new place they will soon call home.  Spend time together as a family exploring what you can do together…for instance enjoy water sports and the beaches or trekking in the mountains.  Some other things you can do…Encourage your kids to find out what they can do in the potential host country all by themselves.  Give them a project to plan your first few weekends and watch them look forward to the place with excitement. Buy maps, guidebooks or take books out of the library to help your children become familiar with the new culture and the ways of the potential host country.

• Involving Kids

One big part of moving abroad with your kids is getting your paperwork done.  Put your children’s passports, birth certificates and health records together.  If they are old enough ask them to help you organize this stuff together with their school records.  Encourage your children to join in selecting a home, decorating it and picking a school…all this will help them feel involved in the move.   Take pets along; they will provide comfort and familiarity to the whole family.

• A Holiday in The Potential Host Country

If you can afford it then taking a short vacation with your family in your potential host country could help expose your children to what will soon be a part of their lives.  Don’t make it seem like a dream vacation, instead, use the time to show them around potential neighborhoods, organize school visits while you also show them some of the sights.

• Prepare Ground for New Friends

If you know of expatriate groups in your potential host country then establish contact with couples who have children of their own.  Introduce your kids to them via email or social networking sites if you can or talk about them so that your kids know they will have some friends to begin with at least.

• Be A Good Listener

Moving abroad is likely to be accompanied by a culture shock for your entire family.  Children are most likely to fear the worst.   Be a good listener when your child voices his concerns and if you can’t deal with it all by yourself, seek professional help.

• Family Ties Back Home

Always assure your kids that you will keep in touch with friends and family back home.  Emails, letters and social networking could help you strengthen their bonds with grandparents, extended family and friends.  Promise to visit your home country at least once every year so that you can keep meeting people and renewing ties. 

• Language Classes

Language skills are an important part of blending in to the social fabric in any country: this why enrolling your kids in language classes’ way before the actual move will pay rich dividends in future. It is a great way to boost their confidence in adapting to life abroad by meeting locals and conversing with them.

• Pets

Pets give unconditional love and comfort and taking them along will ensure your kids have someone they can spend time with besides their parents at home. 

At all times assure your kids that you will be ready to listen to anything they have to say with regard to the move.  An empathetic approach will go a long way in holding you together as a family as you take on life abroad.