Here are some resources to help families with transitions to and from another country. These resources do not address the cross-cultural aspect of such moves as much as how to do the move successfully. There are five articles, and we offer each article in three different forms: the online version for reading online, the printer-friendly version for downloading and printing before reading, and the computer-friendly version to download and read on the computer. The computer-friendly version will also work on an iPad or other tablet. There is a zipped file of the last two versions, including the bibliography and transitions game that you can download at the end of the page.
On this page…
Articles
Transitions: A Lifelong Process
Recommended books/resources
Family Activity
Zipped files of complete resources
Articles
Family Education Plan, by Sharon Haag
This article deals with planning ahead for your children’s education, taking into account kinds of schooling and furloughs, so that your children are ready for life at the end. There is a chart to help with planning that is below and will need to be downloaded separately if needed.
Online: Family Education Plan
The form by itself with instructions
Helping Children with Moves, by Global TC&E Staff
This article gives practical suggestions for how to prepare children before a move so that it can be done as successfully as possible.
Online: Helping Children with Moves
Through Their Eyes Darkly, by Paul Nelson
This article discusses the challenges of helping one’s children maintain a realistic view of their passport country.
Online: Through Their Eyes Darkly
Transitions: A Lifelong Process, by Lynda Shingledecker-Wheeler
This article discusses the phases of transition and lists resources at the end.
Online: Transitions: A Lifelong Process
Bibliography
This resource lists recommended books on transition for various ages and includes some websites at the end.
Home Leave with Children
Home Leave with Children is a brochure with suggestions that will help families prepare for the transition to their passport country and back in order to maximize the benefit of the “home country” experience, especially for their children. You can download an electronic version below. Keeping Children in Mind expands one part of the longer document.
Transitions Game
This is a family communication game entitled Transition Is a Family Affair: Some Ideas for Prompting Discussion Around the Dinner Table. Activities are designed to help parents and children discuss in a nonthreatening manner feelings about changes and moving. There are three sections: Furlough, Moving, and Pre-furlough.
Transitions Packet
The zipped file below has everything from this page.
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What other resources have you found to be helpful?