Prepare your children for moving abroad
Ah, kids – they’re sweet, adorable and lovely. They’re also quite the handful when moving. Of course, they’re not at fault – they’re just kids, after all. Going to a supermarket with them is a challenge. Well, now you’re supposed to move long distance to Brazil or some other country with them. Does this sound tough to you? Well, it is. Before you even move, you have to prepare your children for moving abroad. Well, here’s some advice:
It depends on their age
Kids rarely sit still during the trip. But you have to prepare your children for moving abroad.
This looks obvious at the first glance. This is also extremely important. Your child’s age determines his or her behavior by a large amount. If they’re still babies, unable to talk, understand and comprehend the world around them, you’re good to go actually. This may sound harsh, but young children will likely be in a state of blissful ignorance about their surroundings for a while. This is nothing bad – it’s just that they haven’t developed to a point where they can understand all the emotional weight of moving abroad (or anywhere, for that matter).
You want to involve older children as much as possible
Prepare your children for moving abroad by providing them with things they love.
They will find out, and the sooner the better. Their lives will change drastically with a little help of international movers Brazil. It is up to you to convince them that these changes will be for the better, not worse. They are old enough to understand that a whole new chapter in their lives begins. They will, of course, negatively respond to these changes. When trying to prepare your children for moving abroad, and they respond negatively, there are some things you can do:
- Tell them that there’s a whole new world for them to play with;
- If they’re old enough, tell them about social media. Yes, I know, kids use it too much these days, but it might dampen their nostalgia for old friends;
- Encourage their natural curiosity – surely they will want to experience the thrills of discovering the unknown;
- If they’re older, you can promise them some sort of entertainment that they like – however, do make a promise that you cannot follow up too!
Prepare your children for moving abroad by asking them for help
And be sure to give them some autonomy when choosing household items that are coming with you. For example, you may want to offer them a choice among their toys. The child is to choose which toys will he bring with himself. This means that your child will have to part ways with his teddy bear or other toys that he loves. That hurts, but it is a necessary part of growing up.
Kids can be a mess, so you should prepare your children for moving abroad by offering them something they love on arrival.
Generally speaking, the younger the child is, the better it will be for him or her. If you have to choose between two items, one of which you will carry, ask your child! This will help the child feel that’s he’s a little bit in charge. For example, there are two dresses but you want to leave one behind and carry the other one with you. Your little one will probably be more than eager to help!
When trying to prepare your children for moving abroad, mind the timing
This is important because of the child’s development. You know that the younger your child is, the easier he or she will take the whole moving process. This is because the child hasn’t really had the chance to form an attachment to objects – only to people. Of course, the people that will stay with the child, no matter where the child goes, are his parents.
The flip side of this nasty coin is that older children will be able to enjoy the new environment much more. The reason for this is their superior cognitive abilities. In other words, they are able to absorb and process much more information than babies and toddlers. If you present moving as a joyful experience, you will prepare your children for moving abroad rather well. Especially older children, since moving will appeal to their natural sense of adventure. Different geographical locations might excite them – like moving to Brazil from US.
For example, if you’re moving from a cold climate, such as Canada, to a tropical place like Hawaii or Australia, they may even find the appearance of the place alien. Even you will feel like a stranger in a strange land. But, with patience, both the lifestyle change and the cultural shock is something you can overcome.
Do some research on your destination
Some destination offer big perks. For example, if you’re going to California, you know that it doesn’t offer plenty of opportunities for high-tech and beaches. There’s this place called Annaheim. In it, you can find the dream of many a child (and, let’s face it, adult too): Disneyland! If Disneyland doesn’t excite your child (and probably you), then nothing does. It will most certainly dampen your child’s nostalgic feeling.
It is, however, not likely that your destination will contain amusement parks. If you’re moving, for example, to Australia, your child might like to see some new animals in real life. And no, we don’t mean giant spiders – we mean kangaroos, koalas, and emus. You should also tell your child how the Australian army lost a war to emus in 1932. That should make your offspring a bit less catatonic.
Always emphasize the positive aspects
Leaving the place you call home sucks. All of your kids know it and despite having to leave – most likely forever. They may even hate you for it. Who can blame them – they don’t know how the world works, and you, as a parent, are a source of authority. That’s why it falls to you to comfort them. Play to their weaknesses – have they ever wanted to go on a rollercoaster? Tell them there’s one waiting for them when you move. Of course, make sure you can own up to the promise. Remember, logistics is only a small part. You have to prepare your child for moving abroad by giving them insight into a brighter future. Make them understand that everyone must make some sacrifices – life isn’t easy, but, come on, nothing of value comes easy!
