Preparing Children for Re-entry

These resources for helping your children with transition and re-entry come from a variety of agencies and sources. So there will be some duplication in the content but they are all well thought through and worth you looking at as you prepare yourselves and your children for re-entry. Some of the resources are written using the terminology of the US educational system but can easily be modified for other home countries.

Furlough with Children is a booklet for parents as they plan for and take Home Assignment, and is a great preparation for leaving and thinking ahead. (ICHED)

The Next Chapter is written for families with elementary/primary aged children BUT the first sections are a good reminder for families with children of all ages and the activity section at the end may be adapted for older children. (WEC)

The Transition Game has 3 packs of discussion starter cards – for pre-Home Assignment, Home Assignment, and whenever the family is in transition. (Barnabas)

Helping Children with Moves and Transitions: A Lifelong Process are two great resources about moving and transitions in general for TCKs. (SIL)

We’re Going Home is an excellent resource for elementary/primary aged children who are re-entering their passport culture.

I Don’t Want to Go Home is a very helpful parents’ guide for re-entry for elementary/primary aged children. (New Hope International Ministries)

From our TCK Ministries Director

Transition is an integral part of a cross-cultural worker’s life. It is always difficult but, managed well, it can result in good personal growth.

Managed poorly, transition can have a very negative impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. So please take the time to look through the resources provided here.

A few quick reminders to parents:

1. To enter well, you need to leave well. Remember to build your RAFT before you transition.

2. ‘Home’ for mom and dad is often not ‘home’ for the kids.

3. We all move through transition at different speeds. We need grace with each other in the process.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you or your child gets ‘stuck’ in the cycle.