Moving from one country to another is a big deal, especially for your kids—and especially if you’re doing it frequently. No matter where in the world you are, our Foreign Service community can be a great resource to give support, offer a helping hand, and simply provide friendship.
Here are five tips I’ve used as I’ve moved with my family—I’ve got three very experienced FS kids—from one post to the next:
1. Get your kids excited! Here’s the thing: kids are pretty flexible, but they don’t necessarily like change. If you get them excited about what’s to come, that’ll help the move go a little smoother. Google the city of your new post and find a nearby park, where their school is, and the closest pizza shop (assuming there is one). Then plan a day-trip or mini-adventure in your new city so they have something to look forward to.
3. Get involved in the community. Ask your CLO for the inside scoop on your post’s community. Are there any activities or clubs that your kids can join? What events are coming up that your kids may be able to meet their peers? Don’t forget to join the community Facebook group (if there is one, and if there isn’t—create one!). You can use it to set up playdates and meet other families who also have kids around the same ages as yours.
4. Keep your child's schedule the same, as much as possible. The more predictability and stability, the more quickly your child will adjust to their new home. They’re going through enough changes with the move, so now’s not the time to throw in any more. So, wherever possible, keep things as familiar as you can.
2. Set up the kids' rooms first. If you’ve moved before, you’ve probably already heard this tip, but it’s a classic for a reason. When you’re packing up your kids’ rooms, make sure those boxes are the first things to make it to post. If you’re going to purchase new items for their room, pick out those things together and make sure you order everything early enough to get there when you arrive. Then, once you’re in your new home, unpack and set up their room first. The rest of the house may be in chaos and you may have to order takeout for a few nights, but your kids will have a calm, safe space surrounded by their familiar things, which will go a long way to helping them adjust.
5. Help them appreciate where they’ve been and keep them looking forward to where they’re going. The "Life as a Foreign Service Kid" activity book is a fun way to preserve your child's unique experiences and memories. It’s full of colorful pages for your child to fill in with memories (about the places they’ve lived, the souvenirs they’ve collected, etc.) and hopes for the future (like writing a letter to their future selves). You can get it here, free for a limited time: www.ushistoryabroad.com/activitybookforfskids
Want more tips and tricks for making your life in the Foreign Service a bit easier? For an ongoing list of ideas like these, straight to your inbox each week, subscribe to 3-Things.
Here are five tips I’ve used as I’ve moved with my family—I’ve got three very experienced FS kids—from one post to the next:
1. Get your kids excited! Here’s the thing: kids are pretty flexible, but they don’t necessarily like change. If you get them excited about what’s to come, that’ll help the move go a little smoother. Google the city of your new post and find a nearby park, where their school is, and the closest pizza shop (assuming there is one). Then plan a day-trip or mini-adventure in your new city so they have something to look forward to.
3. Get involved in the community. Ask your CLO for the inside scoop on your post’s community. Are there any activities or clubs that your kids can join? What events are coming up that your kids may be able to meet their peers? Don’t forget to join the community Facebook group (if there is one, and if there isn’t—create one!). You can use it to set up playdates and meet other families who also have kids around the same ages as yours.
4. Keep your child's schedule the same, as much as possible. The more predictability and stability, the more quickly your child will adjust to their new home. They’re going through enough changes with the move, so now’s not the time to throw in any more. So, wherever possible, keep things as familiar as you can.
2. Set up the kids' rooms first. If you’ve moved before, you’ve probably already heard this tip, but it’s a classic for a reason. When you’re packing up your kids’ rooms, make sure those boxes are the first things to make it to post. If you’re going to purchase new items for their room, pick out those things together and make sure you order everything early enough to get there when you arrive. Then, once you’re in your new home, unpack and set up their room first. The rest of the house may be in chaos and you may have to order takeout for a few nights, but your kids will have a calm, safe space surrounded by their familiar things, which will go a long way to helping them adjust.
5. Help them appreciate where they’ve been and keep them looking forward to where they’re going. The "Life as a Foreign Service Kid" activity book is a fun way to preserve your child's unique experiences and memories. It’s full of colorful pages for your child to fill in with memories (about the places they’ve lived, the souvenirs they’ve collected, etc.) and hopes for the future (like writing a letter to their future selves). You can get it here, free for a limited time: www.ushistoryabroad.com/activitybookforfskids
Want more tips and tricks for making your life in the Foreign Service a bit easier? For an ongoing list of ideas like these, straight to your inbox each week, subscribe to 3-Things.