The UN says this has been a year of a high immigration rate. Moving today seems much easier and more affordable. Why did such a prominent level of people decide to migrate? Well, there are several reasons: wars, climate issues, financial opportunities, and political reasons, among other personal ones… People seem to look for places to have a better quality of life. They seek improvements for themselves and their families compared to what they had back in their home country.

To move to a foreign country when you are single is one big threat. moving abroad as a couple is different. Now, moving to a new country with kids is a completely different story. It is a huge challenge to those in charge of the parenting process. You must be aware of your own adaptation. This happens while you take care and help your child adjust to this new place.

Some kids adjust well and profit from the experience of migrating. Others find it exceedingly difficult to fit into the new host country. When children have difficulties adjusting, they show certain symptoms like loneliness, withdrawal, or, sometimes even disruptive behaviors. Expat child Syndrome (ECS) is a term used by psychologists to describe the emotional stress caused by migration in children.

The developmental stage makes the difference

The adaptation process differs from one person to another, and, in kids, the developmental stage makes the difference. Seems like the toughest time to move a kid is during adolescence. Teenage is a problematic period of a child’s life. When you remove them from their close circle of friends, they find it harder to handle the natural mental changes. They also struggle with the physical changes they are experiencing.

With social media, things are changing. The effect social media interaction has on teens is in the process of being studied. Teens leave physically their close group of friends but can have immediate contact with them. They are and are not there. They belong and do not belong at the same time. They see and lose social gatherings and parties’ events with their friends. Seems hard. This mix does not allow the expected grieving process to slide gently.

Expat Child Syndrome

If the host country is dramatically dissimilar from their home country, the transition will be extremely challenging. The language and school environment are the key issues in the process of adjusting to a new country. ECS is much more common among children who are relocating more than once. Kids from diplomats, military forces, and international companies, among others, are more likely to suffer ECS. These kids usually become frustrated at having to adjust continuously from one country to another. I highly recommend international schools for that population. In those places, all parents go through a similar process. They are more empathetic to what the kid and his family are going through.

On the other hand, going to an international school will make it harder to contact local people. It will also make it harder to learn the local language. Here I consider it extremely important to consider the child’s age. Under eight. I would recommend a local school. Children learn the language very quickly at that age. From 8-10, it varies from kid to kid,

Parenting as an expat

Parenting is always challenging, and parenting as an expat raises additional questions. Language in a country that does not speak your language is only one of the challenges. Finding someone who understands the added dimension of common topics in an expat setting can be overwhelming. Luckily, today, there is social media where ex-pats help each other, and that makes it flow a bit easier. In those groups, they share information that can be immensely helpful for the new arrivals.

As you have noticed, moving to a new country is not for everyone. If you are being relocated or you are choosing to move to another country with children, consider these factors. Be aware of the impact the moving process has on kids. it will help you get the best out of the enriching experience of living abroad!