When I was studying Communications for my B.A, I was asked to write a paper about my experience of growing up overseas. Little did I know then about my life, because as it turned out I was a Third Culture Kid growing up without even knowing that. A Third Culture Kid (or TCK), is basically one that grows up in a foreign culture and experiences a sense of not fully belonging to their country they live in, nor to their passport country when they return to it. In fact, TCK\u2019s feel mostly at home in a \u2018third culture\u2019 that they create uniquely for themselves in their new surrounding.
\nRelocating might be one of the most difficult things for young kids for endless reasons: they might sense a feeling of strangeness, they could experience a culture sock, they will have to adapt to a new environment and sometimes even learn a new language, will have to make new friends that they know in advance they will say goodbye to one day and on top of that they had left everything familiar behind. It\u2019s pretty much a long and youthful version of Survivor: What\u2019s My Home?
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\nHowever, despite all the hardships (the emotional and logistical ones) for both parents and their children, the abundance of advantages and positive-life-lasting-diverse outcomes – are simply priceless. Sure, it\u2019s going to be hard in the beginning, but once they settle in and find their place, it could turn out to be the most amazing experience of their lives and they could literally enjoy the best of all worlds.
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\nPreparing your kids, though, before getting on the plane, is just as important as when you finally arrive at your new destination. If relocating is in the stars for your family, here are some tips that could hopefully help you ease that big move for your little ones:<\/span>
\nTalk That Talk<\/b>
\nAs obvious as it may sound, you pretty much can\u2019t avoid it and you\u2019ll have to have \u2018The Talk\u2019 with your kids before you embark on a new journey. Just sit down with them and explain to them like young adults what they will be expecting, how life will look like in the new place, emphasize all the good points of relocating and the \u2018cool\u2019 things that they can expect to even if it sounds childish to you, to them it\u2019s everything. Most importantly, try to have that talk not too ahead of time and not too close to when your departure date is. They need enough time to mentally prepare themselves, but not too much time to experience anxiety attacks.
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\nPacking It Up<\/b>
\nGet your kids to help with the packing, if they are still a little young, they can help with bubble wrapping their favorite toys. Make them a part of the process from beginning to end so they will have a continuation of one thing that started in one place and later with unpacking the memories and the stuff from in their new home.
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\nCry It Out<\/b>
\nAs heart wrenching as it may be to watch your kid cry, keep in mind that it\u2019s a totally normative response. It could be like a rollercoaster of emotions for them. They might be excited and then a minute later they\u2019ll remember they are separating from what they know. Just give them a big hug, tell them you\u2019re here for them and most importantly that you understand what they are going through.
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\nKeep In Touch<\/b>
\nAnother way that could ease the transition is by letting them stay connected with their friends and family from back home. These days it\u2019s pretty much the easiest thing to do with all the different communication media. Connect them with their grandparents at least once a week and help them keep in touch with their friends in any possible way. That way they will also have something to look forward to should you ever decide to move back. It will also give them the feeling that they have roots somewhere.
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\nThe New Room<\/b>
\nOnce you arrive at your new home, let your kids arrange their new room. It\u2019s based on the same concept of packing their own stuff. That way they will feel like they are part of the ongoing process and will feel more confident in their new space that they have helped create.
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\nWalk That Walk<\/b>
\nThere\u2019s nothing like touring the new place by car, by foot or any way you\u2019re comfortable with. Take your kids on a tour at the new environment, introduce them to their new school, the local ice cream shop and just anything that could be fun for them to get to know in their new neighborhood. It could really help them with wanting to hang out outside of the house, and not just in their familiar environment.<\/span>
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\nNeighbors<\/b>
\nGive your kids as many opportunities as possible to meet new friends and people. There\u2019s nothing like interacting with the people who are already settled in. You\u2019ll be surprised by how welcoming new people can be and how they can make you feel so much at home away from home. At the end of the day, that\u2019s all your kids really need.
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I was studying Communications for my B.A, I was asked to write a paper about my experience of growing up overseas. Little did I know then about my life, because as it turned out I was a Third Culture Kid growing up without even knowing that. A Third Culture Kid (or TCK), is basically […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":11461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global"],"yoast_head":"\n