Ready, Set, Go! Your Guide To Preparing Your Kid For Life Abroad

A lot of Hong Kong kids go to overseas boarding schools, but preparing for life abroad can be incredibly daunting. Fret not, Mamas: here are some tips and tricks to help your kid come to terms with the idea.

For many Hong Kong kids, heading overseas is practically a rite of passage — whether it’s boarding school, university or even summer camps. But let’s face it: going out of your comfort zone is one thing, and having to leave all your family and friends for a whole new environment is a whole different ballgame altogether. Truth be told, if we Mamas struggle with the idea of living abroad, imagine how our children must feel.

If your kids are gearing up for their own overseas adventure — be it for college or relocating with the whole family — a little prep work goes a long way in easing the transition. Here’s how we can help prepare our kids for living life abroad.

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Get them excited about their new destination

The key is to get the kids involved, and turn those nerves into sheer excitement! Go to the library and borrow books about their new destination; or even have a cookout party, where you whip up local dishes together. Show them sightseeing spots or landmarks aligned with their interests, such as museums, theme parks, beaches or zoos.

Sassy Mama Tip: If your kids will have to speak a new language, go all out and embrace it. Get them acquainted with the language using Duolingo, or sign them up for some classes.

Sometimes, it’s all about making the unfamiliar, familiar. Show them photos of where they’re going to live, the streets they will walk on and nearby landmarks as frequently as possible.

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Give them a safe space for their feelings

It’s completely natural for kids to have a hard time processing it all. If your child gets anxious, upset, sad or angry, don’t hold it against them! Give them a safe space to air their feelings and help them feel validated.

Sassy Mama Tip: Get ready for lots and lots of questions! This can range from fundamental questions like “why are we moving?” and “do we really have to move?” to more complex questions like “what if no one likes me at my new school?”. Be patient and answer each of them (no matter how many times they ask the same question) to help your kids feel assured.

This can happen especially when they’re grappling with the thought of saying goodbye to their family and friends. Mamas, it’s okay to be honest and acknowledge that the process will be difficult at times, but what’s important is that you will all go through it together. Stay calm and reassuring, and your child will naturally receive (and emulate) the same energy.

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Help them maintain some sense of familiarity

They might be moving to a different environment, but that doesn’t mean that everything has to change! Younger children can choose to bring over their favourite books and toys, and make their new bed look and feel the same as their current one. Put in the effort to maintain as much of your usual routine as possible — keep the Friday movie nights, nightly bedtime stories, and weekend visits to the park — as well as create some new ones, such as exploring the city’s new haunts together.

Sassy Mama Tip: If you anticipate your child having difficulty adjusting to the new local cuisine, consider bringing some ingredients or condiments from home. This will definitely help bridge the gap!

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How to support them when they feel homesick

Alas, feeling homesick is part and parcel of the whole experience of moving abroad. Most importantly, they have to feel assured that they’ll still stay connected to family and friends. Set up regular FaceTime calls with grandparents and relatives so that they’ll have something to look forward to, as well as exchange email addresses or phone numbers with their peers.

Before leaving, ask close family and friends to write messages in a notebook. It’d be great to print lots of photos too. If possible, plan trips back home to visit — which is something that your children can count down to. If they’re venturing abroad by themselves to further their studies, it always helps to go over with them to help them settle in. Don’t forget to let them know when you’ll next visit, or when they can come home to visit too. Every bit counts!

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