When moving overseas with IntlMOVE, there are many adjustments you will have to make as a family. Children can be especially sensitive during international moves, so it is important to take their feelings into consideration. Planning to Move Overseas When you are shipping your household goods to your new country, let your children help you decide what they want take with them overseas. If they have a toy that is important to them, make sure it is included in your international shipment. When children see their items being packed, they can be assured they will see the items again. The online volume calculator provide by IntlMOVE can help you determine what your international shipment will cost so you can plan accordingly. Addressing Children’s Concerns When you are moving overseas, it is important to make sure you alleviate your children’s fears. Some children are afraid they will be left behind. Other children are afraid their personal possessions will be left behind or thrown away. Let your children know that they will not be left behind and that their important personal effects will be included in the international shipment. Make sure you children know that they can return to their home country to visit grandparents, other family members and friends. An overseas move does not mean they have to say goodbye to the people and things they love. Children can also be frightened about having a place to live when they are faced with an international move. You can show your children pictures of your new home online so they can see they have a nice, clean and safe environment they can call home. You can also show them their new school online so they know they will have a place to learn and meet friends. Although these are just common concerns, your children may be harboring fears they are not expressing. Ask your children what they think about the move and if there is anything that scares them. Simply taking the time to talk to your children will help them accept the international move as an exciting adventure. The worst thing you can do is plan the move without consulting your children. The international move involves them too, so it is best to keep a line of open communication. This will also help to deter any resentful feelings your children may not be able to express. Present a Positive Image of the Move When you share the news of an international move with your children, make sure the information is presented in a positive manner. Get your kids excited about their new country by encouraging them to learn fun facts about the new place they are going to live. Make sure your attitude is realistic and you don’t give your children false impressions of what life will be like overseas. However, if everyone plans for the move together, you can make choices as a team. Keeping in Touch Arrange a going away party for your children. You can invite the relatives and the children’s closest friends. During the party, make sure you get all of the friends’ contact information so you children will be assured nobody will forget about them. Let your older children know they can call and see their friends by using Skype. Older children can also keep in touch by using social networking websites. Email is also another option to stay in touch. International calls are also very inexpensive compared to what they were in recent years. Let your children know that they can talk to their friends and relatives anytime. If you keep your children abreast of the international moving process, you will be sure to experience a smoother relocation. Let IntlMOVE be part of your family’s international move by shipping all of your household goods to your new home overseas. |