Deciding to move abroad with your teen will not be an easy decision.
Teenagers are in a crucial transitional phase, so breaking this news will be challenging.
As much as you are doing what is best for the family, you do need to help your teen cope with moving abroad.
It is well known that parents and children frequently have a tough time communicating, so when you talk to them about relocating it is best to follow these five tips below:
1. Planning Stages
As soon as the possibility of relocation becomes a reality, include your teen in the conversation. Do not just spring it on them and hope for the best.
Your teen may experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, confusion, and anger when faced with leaving everything they have ever known behind and moving to a new country.
Be patient with them and allow them to help during the planning stages – the more control your teen feels they have over this decision, the better.
2. Listen
Try to see the world through the eyes of your teen.
Managing a new school, studies, and making friends in a strange country is nothing short of extremely daunting for any child at any age, but particularly for teenagers.
Be mindful of your teen’s feelings and learn to listen more and talk less.
Teenagers are often the most reluctant expats because their identities are defined by their social standing, relationships, and sports or hobbies.
Leaving that behind can be profoundly challenging, and the more you listen to them, the more you can help.
3. Secure Accommodation
The hardest thing for your teen will be the uncertainty of it all.
They will worry about whether or not they will fit in at their new school, how long it will take them to make new friends, and if life will ever be the same again.
Take some of the stress out of that equation by letting them help you select accommodation from DelSuites – that way you have somewhere safe and comfortable to land while you look for a home to buy.
4. Establish Routines On Arrival
To help your teen settle in quickly, establish a fixed routine as soon as possible.
How your teen settles in will vary, but routine plays an essential role. Apart from getting them to and from school, set mealtimes and bedtimes to help solidify their new routine.
Your teen will feel like they are leaving their world behind, so reproduce elements of home in your new destination country. For example, if they love Chinese takeout back home, find a great restaurant to try when you first arrive.
An established routine can help your teen adapt and feel like they are not losing everything.
5. Explore Together
One of the end goals for any parent relocating a teenager halfway across the world is to get them to feel comfortable as soon as possible.
A great way to do this is by exploring your new country together.
Take them on a trip around your new city, with the goal of getting them familiarized with their new surroundings. Choose an activity you know your teen would love, like a hike, coffee date, or a shopping trip.
To End
Moving abroad with a teen is tough on the child and the parents.
Follow these five tips above to help your teen adjust to life in a new country and show them the exciting side of it.
