International School Parent Magazine - Spring 2024

Top 10 tips to arrive well:
#1 - Be Brave
#2 - Be approachable and smile
#3 - Keep curious
#4 - Be yourself
#5- Be kind
#6 - Be grateful
#7 - Focus on your strengths
#8 - Remember your old place
#9 - Make your bedroom a haven
#10 - Ask for help
Arriving well
On arrival, most of us enter ‘a honeymoon
phase’ where things are exciting and
different but okay. For most of us, at some
point, we take off our metaphorical rosecoloured
glasses and things seem different
but not okay. This is often referred to as
Culture Shock. The good news is that
humans are built for survival, we adapt
to our new environment after a while.
Things like taking time to connect with the
community; taking children to local sports
or cultural events, encouraging friendships,
and getting familiar with the new place will
all help with adjustment. If a new language
is spoken, learn some basic words, this may
be something you do together. Above are
The Moving On Series top tips for arriving
well. These are important things for ‘the
arriver’ to consider and are expanded upon
in The Arriving Well Activity Book.
Strong relationships will get you through
Ups and downs are inevitable. The
bedrock of being able to support fully is
a kind, understanding and ideally playful
relationship. Prioritise time spent with your
child/ren, actively engage in activities and
times of just being, this will help create a
sense of safety. If you feel that your child’s
daily functioning (or your own) is impacted
do seek extra support.
Growing strong
Change is unsettling, yet it is a part of
life, resilience is built when children learn
change is manageable. Global transitions
provide much learning about adapting and
coping, letting go and embracing the new.
This is a time for you and your family to
explore, dream, discover and grow in ways
you never thought possible.
More about the books
The Moving On Series is a
set of 3 books designed for
6–12-year-olds to support
global transitions . There
are two activity books
and a guide. The guide
is designed for the lead
adult to facilitate both
activity books, helping
the child get the most out
of the pages. The activity
books are jam-packed with activities that invite the reader to use
their creativity by annotating and illustrating. This makes the book
unique to each child, helping them be an active participant in the move.
Wellbeing boosting strategies are shared for transition and beyond. It’s
not only for the kids, though, as it’s based on research there’s much
wisdom for adults too!
Book 1 - Leaving Well Activity Book: designed to be given to children
moving to a new country around 8-weeks before departure to help
them leave and arrive well.
Book 2 - Arriving Well
Activity Book: designed
to be given to children on
arrival to help them settle
into their new country.
Book 3 - Moving On
Facilitators Guide:
designed to help a lead
adult support children
navigate Books 1 & 2.
Acclaim for The Moving On Series:
“TCK Pioneer, David Pollock, always said “You have to leave well to
enter well.” This wonderful, practical series give parents, educators,
and counsellors practical tools to help children do just that. The
child friendly activity books give opportunity for children to process
their often-paradoxical feelings during each phase of the move. The
Facilitators Guide is clear on how to
best use the material. This series will
be a most welcome addition to those
seeking to create a smooth transition
for children moving on.” Ruth E Van
Reken. Co-author: Third Culture Kids:
Growing Up Among Worlds.
The Moving On Series is available
from major retailers that include
Amazon UK, Amazon SG, WHSmith
and Waterstones and direct from
the publishers Routledge. Search
for Claire Holmes Moving On and
you’ll see the texts.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SPRING 2024 | 60