10 Tips for Parenting as an Expat

Raising children in a foreign country comes with unique challenges and rewards. As an expat parent, you need to balance adapting to a new culture while maintaining a stable environment for your kids. Here are 10 tips to help you navigate the complexities of parenting abroad.

1. Embrace the Local Culture

Encourage your children to embrace the local culture by engaging in local traditions, customs, and holidays when it's feasible. This may help them feel more connected to their new environment and foster a sense of belonging. Attend community events and make friends with local families when it's possible. That will be more of a challenge in some places than in others.

Embracing the local culture, however, doesn't mean you have to abandon your own culture. You and your family can find ways to adopt what is in line with your values, and do your best to navigate key differences that are not. Will there be tension between the two at times? Almost certainly, and that is part of the challenge of any international relocation. Be prepared for those challenges and communicate with your spouse or partner on how you will handle those circumstances.

2. Maintain Consistent Routines

While living abroad introduces new experiences and a lot of change, maintaining some consistency at home can provide comfort. Stick to routines that work for your family, whether it's regular meal times, bedtime rituals, or weekend activities. These routines will create a sense of security for your children in an unfamiliar environment.

Any routines from home that you feel will translate well to your new circumstances can be quite helpful and should be considered. At the same time, trying to completely recreate your old life has the potential to backfire and lead to kids longing to go home. It may take time to find the proper balance, but adding some level of consistency and familiarity can be extremely helpful when moving to a new country and culture.

3. Be Patient with the Transition

Moving to a new country can be overwhelming for both you and your children. It's important as a parent to be patient with your children as they adjust to their new country and culture. While you have a broader set of life experiences, coping skills, and resilience to navigate these changes, children often lack the same frame of reference. Try to see this new life through their eyes, understanding that what may seem exciting or manageable to you can feel overwhelming or confusing to them. Give them time and age-appropriate support as they build their own sense of security in this unfamiliar environment.

4. Keep an Open Mind

Expat life often comes with surprises and unexpected situations. Approach these with an open mind and encourage your children to do the same. Demonstrating flexibility in thinking and a positive attitude toward the differences in your new environment will help your kids adapt more easily. Model this for your children and they are likely to adopt these skills and make them more resilient.

5. Stay Connected with Your Home Country

Help your children maintain a sense of connection to their home country by keeping in touch with friends and family back home. Regular video calls, care packages, and visits can provide a sense of continuity and reduce feelings of homesickness. Again, one of the challenges for each family and each individual child is evaluating how much contact with home is helpful, and how much will be too much and lead to more homesick.

6. Focus on Language Learning

Learning the local language - if it's not the same as your own - can significantly improve your family's experience abroad. Enroll your children in language classes or take lessons together. Being able to communicate with locals will help them make friends and feel more confident in their daily interactions. Children are often able to learn languages a bit faster than adults, and this will help them feel like they are a part of their new community and ease the transition. Being around other expats kids that are learning, if possible, may also help them feel more secure.

7. Involve Your Children in Decisions

Empower your children by involving them in decisions, whether it's choosing a school, extracurricular activities, or family outings. This sense of involvement can help them feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the changes they are experiencing.

8. Find Expat Communities

Connect with other expat families to share experiences, advice, and support. Expat communities can be a great resource for both you and your children, offering opportunities for social interaction with people who understand the unique challenges of living abroad.

9. Be Mindful of Education Choices

Choosing the right school is crucial for your child's educational and social development. Research both local and international schools, considering factors such as curriculum, language of instruction, and cultural environment. If you plan on being an expat in more than one location while your child or children are growing up, consider that international schools and programs such as the International Baccalaureate Program help to ensure an education that will be recognized by other schools around the world as a a core part in educational programs that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world.

10. Make Time for Family Bonding

Expat life can be busy, with work, social engagements, and new experiences. However, it's always wise to prioritize family bonding time. Explore the local area together or set aside a weekly family night, and these moments will strengthen your family's connection during your time abroad and help you adapt to your new country and culture together.

Parenting as an expat is an adventure filled with opportunities for growth and learning. It's also - at times - extremely challenging. If you do your best to embrace the experience while maintaining a stable foundation at home, you can help your children learn to adapt to your new life abroad.