For Families
OVERVIEW FOR FAMILIES
PREPARING YOUR FAMILY
Moving cross culturally with children adds another dimension to an already challenging adjustment. AIM International’s goal is that all our families flourish as you serve with us. To this end we want to encourage families to plan and prepare for family life overseas, and to start education planning for your children.
Required Reading
Read Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids by Lauren Wells (available from Amazon). This is an excellent book on the implications of parenting in another culture and is full of practical suggestions. Follow the Companion Guide for chapter-by-chapter engagement questions.
Book
Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids
Materials
AIM’s Companion Guide for Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids
Talk with your Mobilising Office
Contact your Mobilising Office Educational Consultant to discuss education options and education planning for your children as early in the Equip process as possible. Talk these issues through with your children, especially older ones. Even young children need to be reassured that you are making plans for them and be able to have some input into those plans. (NB You can also contact the AIM International TCK Consultant).
For children 3-8 Years Old
With children approximately three to eight years old, do the activities in Off We Go, an activity guide which helps children (and their parents) address issues of leaving their passport country for the first time. Involve the whole family in this process as much as possible (some activities could be modified for older children).
download
Off We Go Activity Guide
Free download of Raising Resilient MKs and Other Books
Website for Parents of Missionaries
Books to use with kids
Recommended Article – Language Development for MKs
Books from BR Anchor Publishing:
Footsteps Around the World; Relocation Tips for Teens by Beverly D. Roman (for 12+years)
The League of Super Movers by Beverly D. Roman (for 9 –12 year olds)
My Family is Moving by Beverly D. Roman (for 6 – 9 year olds)
Member Care Media has many audio resources on a variety of topics and is well worth exploring. Many of the audio files also have written transcripts attached
TCK Resources – a great website with a large selection of books about TCKs for all age groups
for teens
Coping with Teenage Repatriation Trauma
How to Deal with a Move – Tips for Teens (written for teens)
Moving Abroad – Preparing Teenagers for Expat Life (written for parents)
Moving with a Teen (written for parents)
Moving with Teens (written for parents)
Teen Help – Preparing to Move to a New Town (written for teens)
Teens Moving Overseas (written for teens)
Teens Health (written for teens)
Club Expat: A Teenager’s Guide to Moving Overseas is a comprehensive guidebook for any young adult or family moving overseas.
