As you know, moving abroad is both an exciting and daunting experience.
It's exhilarating exploring a new place with your family, but it can also create quite a few questions in the mind of an expatriate.
How can I help make the transition easier for our family? What is it like being a parent as well as an expatriate? How will living as an expatriate affect me and my relationship? How can I ease the experience for my children in starting a new school?
Sometimes the best way to get the answers you seek is to lose yourself in a well-written book. We've created a list of some must-reads in a few of the most commonly searched areas.
Must-Read Parenting Books
Calm Parents, Happy Siblings by Dr. Laura Markham
One of the most common questions asked by parents of multiple children is how to equally split your focus to give each of them enough attention and help them establish a strong bond between one another.
This is the question the book Calm Parents, Happy Siblings explores. In this must-read parenting book, you'll discover how to create a loving, family environment, help your children learn social-emotional and conflict resolution skills and ultimately aid in your kids developing relationship-building capabilities.
Brain Rule for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five by Dr. John Medina
This insightful book explores the in-depth development of the brain from birth to age five.
Dr. Medina teaches parents nature versus nurture, the effects of television on a baby's development, when to praise your children and one of the ways to help your children get into their university of choice, just to name some of the many lessons.
The book also looks into how to set up classrooms to help a child's learning.
Books to Read With Your Children About Starting School
Pete the Kitty's First Day of Preschool by Kimberly and James Dean
In this fun, children's book, protagonist Pete the Kitty takes us through his first day of school and all the joy it includes. From singing to his loveable teacher to building crafts, this enjoyable read will have your children excited about their first day.
Teachers Rock! by Todd Parr
This is a book to read with your children which will help them learn the incredible value of a great teacher.
Must-Read Books if You're an Expatriate
A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit
In this philosophical book, Solnit explores both the positive and negative factors of getting lost and putting yourself in new, unfamiliar situations both mentally and physically.
Though anyone can find guidance and lessons in this book, it's particularly helpful if you're an expatriate lost in a new lifestyle.
The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah
If you're looking for a book to teach you something while also making you laugh, The Caliph's House is a wise decision.
It's a dark comedy exploring Shah and his family's move to Morocco. During this adventure, the family has just about everything go wrong - including a cockroach infestation.
Shah believes it's an experience - no matter how extreme - expatriates will be able to relate to.
Discover more must-read books for expatriates by clicking here.
As you take the time to educate yourself with parenting tips, guidance on raising children as an expatriate and general reading about living abroad in a foreign place, it's also essential to learn about the aspects of the school your children will be attending.
Learning about the curriculum, school campus and teaching methodologies, and relating them to how they contribute to the overall education of your children, will help you have conversations with your kids and help them get more from their learning.