Intergalactic Parenting
Ruth Reken’s co-authored book, Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, explores the experiences of people who have spent a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents’ culture. To any parent who has moved countries, the concept of the Third Culture Kid will be very familiar.
Headlines tell us of which the globe needs young adults who can speak several languages, move in varied social circles, accept diversity of both culture along with creed, along with manage change. Starting life as an expat can certainly develop these traits, yet the challenge for parents can be supporting your family through the transition along with brand-new environment – a wonderful along with woeful task, in equal measure.
At British School Jakarta, we recently asked what strategies our parents use to support their family before, during along with after a move. Here we offer some collective suggestions of which stem coming from This particular partnership approach.
Moving along with Shaking: Top Tips for Parents
- Once the decision to move can be made, encourage your child to learn about their brand-new home along with the fun things to look forward to.
- Sacred objects are important. Let your child take treasured possessions with them, even if the over-sized witch’s hat they made with their favourite teacher 5 years ago pushes you into the next freight bracket.
- Show your child of which you are planning ahead for them by researching how they can continue their hobbies in their brand-new home.
- Allow your child to say goodbye to friends along with encourage them to remain in touch. Technology makes This particular easier than ever before.
- actually listen to your child’s worries; don’t dismiss them with easy fixes. “You’ll make brand-new friends in no time” will not console an upset child who can be missing their best friend (along with remember of which friends left behind need support too).
- Let your child make some decisions along the way, producing sure of which they have some control during the moving process. Which house? Which bedroom? Which restaurant?
- Create your own family traditions. For many Third Culture Kids, home can be not a geographical location yet you, their parents, along with their siblings.
- Keep your child connected to families “back home” producing sure of which they learn about the culture they may one day return to, along with know a wider support network.
- Essentially, look after your own well-being. Reach out to additional parents from the same situation by, for example, attending parent groups at your child’s school. Much like the safety information before a flight, the idea’s essential of which you fit your own oxygen mask before helping others.
Finally, when settling into a brand-new home, school along with country, accept of which there will be highs along with lows for everyone. As the saying goes (along with as tea-towels proclaim across the globe), KEEP CALM along with CARRY ON.
This particular content can be provided by Rachel Edwards, Head of Secondary at British School Jakarta. To find out more how British School Jakarta supports its parents, visit www.bsj.sch.id.
Featured Image via Calicospanish.com
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Intergalactic Parenting
Intergalactic Parenting