Tips To Help Your Child Settle Down In A New Country

Providing good life for family and children is one of the primary reasons why people move abroad to work.

Some expats leave their families at home and move into the country of work. While the others prefer taking their families along with them to settle in the foreign country. This way they get the benefits of their job abroad yet don’t end up missing their family.

However moving abroad with your children can be quite a challenging feat. The first few days can be really disconcerting for you and your children. So you’ll have to formulate a workable settling down strategy, so that your family, especially your children are unruffled by the new environment and people, cultural and social differences, in the new country.

If you have no clue as to what you must do, don’t worry. Here are our tips to help your children settle down as quickly as possible.

Explore the neighbourhood

It’s very important that you first explore the place of your stay, so that you get a good hang of the place and can guide your children. Find out the places from where you can get groceries, pay bills,send money, money exchange, etc. If you have older children, give them some space and time to explore the new surroundings. However make sure you know exactly where so that if something goes wrong you can be there for them.

Once you enter your new locality, ensure you make friends with fellow expats or with the native residents in your neighbourhood. Bond with their families, so that you can get to know their children and can set up play dates easily. Your children will now mingle effortlessly, as their new buddies are more like family friends. This will help them feel more at home. Having fun and playing will help ease your child’s settling down process in the new country.

Learn the local language

Children pick up language very quickly. So spend time with them and help them learn the new language. If you yourself are not familiar with the new language, ensure you both sign up for language classes. You can make the language course payments using prepaid cards easily. This way, you can make their stay in the new country more comfortable. They will not face trouble interacting with people from their school or your neighbourhood.

Stay true to your roots

As much as possible, keep up with your regular family rituals and routines from back home. Speak your native language with your children. This will give them a sense a security and warmth. Never use the new language to correct your child in public. This negative experience will lead them to feel less motivated to learn or speak in the new language.

Develop a hobby

Your responsibility as an adult is to make sure your children are engaged with a new hobby/sport that’s appealing and can help rejuvenate their mind. Initially your child may feel lonely and be hesitant to go for the classes. Encourage and motivate them to take up hobbies/ sport that they are passionate about. Don’t let them get into boredom, which can leave them feeling lonely and depressed.

Help them adjust to the changing weather

If your home country was warm and sunny and you just moved to a country that is cold and snowy, your child will be the one who suffers the most. Make sure you have adequate supplies and facilities to tackle and help your child adjust to the weather change. Talk to your child well ahead of your move into the new country. Prepare them mentally to accept the weather change. Tell them about all the fun things they can do to make the best of the new climate.

Ensure you have all the required medication available and as soon as you reach the new country, locate the nearest hospital and keep their contact details handy for any emergency.

Remember, your child will reflect your actions and sentiments so unless you settle down and love your new country, it will become very difficult for your children to do so. Make an effort to integrate into the community and bring your children along so they can meet new people as well.

Have a great time with your family in the new country!

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