4 Strategies for Successfully Transitioning Your Child to an International School
Moving to a new country and attending an international school present an especially challenging transition period for transfer students to navigate, particularly for those who have never left their home country and grew up in a more traditional school environment. Not only will these students have to adjust to new academic standards and forge relationships with new people, but they’ll also have to do these things in a highly diverse, multicultural environment. Language barriers, culture shock, and homesickness are just some of the challenges new international students and their parents can expect.
If you’ve only just begun preparing to move your family abroad, chances are, finding an international school Singapore expats trust is one of your first and most important agenda items. And once you’ve got your school locked in, you’ll want to investigate what steps you can take to ease the transition for your child. Try the following tips to help your kid thrive in an international school environment:
Discuss the Move with Your Child Upfront
Moving abroad is a highly stressful and labor-intensive process, and many parents get so caught up in sorting out the logistics that they forget to check in on how their children might be feeling. Some may even be inclined to sweep the matter under the rug, insisting that they’re making the best choice possible for the family and that the move will be good no matter what. But talking through your child’s thoughts and emotions with them can actually help them process the transition and better adjust to life in your host country.
Ideally, it’s best to begin honest conversation about your move as soon as the decision is finalized. Even if you’re moving to a country like Singapore, where expats enjoy fairly comfortable lives, your child may still be daunted by the idea of uprooting their old life and starting over somewhere new. They may be grieving the loss of their routines, relationships, and general familiarity with the environment back home. It’s important that you don’t minimize or attempt to rationalize away these feelings. Allow your child to talk through them at their own pace, even if they can be difficult to hear about and discuss.
Once you touch down in your host country, make it a point to check in on your child periodically and observe their emotional state over time. Giving them a safe space to discuss positive and negative experiences at their new school will help you identify any challenges that need your special attention.
Speak with Their Future Teachers
Your child’s teachers are going to be their first and foremost source of support when they start over at a new school. Thus, you’ll want to communicate with them as early as possible, so that the teachers can get to know your child and develop some idea of how to support them well in the classroom. If your child received any special academic assistance or accommodations at their old school, ask about what similar options for support are available at the new school. It’s also worthwhile to tell them about your child’s interests, personality, and concerns about the transition, so that your child’s teachers can better help them integrate socially as well as academically.
School counselors are also important resources for student support, and schools in Singapore typically employ well-qualified mental health specialists to help safeguard students’ well-being. Your international school is likely to have a robust guidance and counseling program, so don’t hesitate to seek support for your child if they’re dealing with difficult emotions about the move. The school counselor may also be able to help your child integrate better into their new community by putting them in touch with other new students or recommending extracurricular activities they might enjoy.
Familiarize Them with the Local Culture
Moving to a new country can be daunting, but it can also be an exciting adventure and a fruitful learning experience. And as your child grows more comfortable in your new home, they’ll likely feel more connected to the new communities they’re part of and have an easier time navigating everyday life. Start by discovering as much as you can about your host country together even before your move. Research landmarks or places of interest you’d like to visit, food you’d like to try, and local customs. Once you’ve settled down in your host country, you can plan weekend excursions to spots you’re curious about, or simply spend time exploring the neighborhood.
Learning the local language is one way for expat families to integrate better into community life in their host country. Multilingualism is also an increasingly attractive skill to employers, and it will surely serve your child well throughout their academic and professional career. If your child is indeed interested in learning a new language, see if their international school offers language classes at the appropriate level. At the very least, the school will probably be able to recommend external learning centers where they can study.
Stay Connected to Loved Ones at Home
Even as your child adapts to life in your host country, it’s important to retain strong ties to family and friends back home. This will give your child a sense of stability and preserve their sense of connection with their roots even though they’ve moved away. Scheduling periodic phone or video calls with distant loved ones is one simple but effective way to stay connected. Eventually, your family might travel home to visit or even host people from back home at your new place.
The above steps are simple but highly effective ways for expat parents to support their children as they start over at an international school. With you in their corner every step of the way, your child will definitely come to thrive in their new surroundings.
