Preparing To Move Across the World….again!

After five years in Switzerland, our family is packing up and preparing for our next adventure: Taiwan. This will be our fourth international move, and while we’ve navigated transitions before, each one brings its own set of emotions, challenges, and opportunities for growth. For our children, this means leaving behind friendships, routines, and the familiar comforts of life. For us as parents, it’s about guiding them through the uncertainty with emotional intelligence and resilience.

Moving isn’t just about packing boxes; it’s about packing emotions. Our children, like most Third Culture Kids (TCKs), are experiencing a whirlwind of feelings—excitement, anxiety, sadness, and anticipation, sometimes all in the same day. As we prepare for this transition, we are leaning heavily on social and emotional learning strategies to help them process and express their emotions healthily.

Strategies to Help Kids Emotionally Transition

1. Naming and Normalizing Emotions

Before we’ve even started sorting out logistics, we’ve made space for conversations about how everyone is feeling. In our home, emotions aren’t something to fix or dismiss; they’re signals. We talk openly about the sadness of leaving, the nervousness about the unknown, and the excitement of exploring a new place. By normalizing these feelings, we help our kids develop emotional agility rather than suppressing their worries.

2. Building a ‘Memory Blueprint’

We’re creating a “Memory Blueprint” with our kids to honor our time in Switzerland—a photo book of favorite places, people, and experiences. This provides closure and helps our children see their journey as one of building layers of experiences rather than just endings and beginnings.

3. Teaching the Power of ‘And’

One of the biggest SEL lessons we teach our kids is that emotions don’t have to be either-or. We can be sad to leave and excited to go. We can be nervous about making new friends and confident in our ability to do so. Teaching them the power of ‘and’ helps them hold space for multiple emotions without feeling overwhelmed by them.

4. Navigating the Stayer-Leaver Dynamic

One of the most complex aspects of moving in international school communities is the dynamic between stayers and leavers. Those who remain in Switzerland continue with their routines while dealing with the loss of friends, while those leaving must process the shift into the unknown. In international schools, we encourage kids to recognize that goodbyes impact both sides, and staying connected, when possible, helps maintain meaningful friendships. Likewise, we talk about the importance of welcoming new students in Taiwan, understanding that at some point, everyone is either a stayer or a leaver.

5. Creating Predictability Amidst Change

Children thrive on routine, and international moves disrupt the predictable. While we can’t control everything, we are maintaining a few key routines—cherished family dinners, lively game nights, and savoring our final days carving through the slopes and discovering the wonders of Europe. Having these small constants in the midst of big change gives our kids a sense of security.

6. Empowering Them with Ownership

Rather than the move feeling like something happening "to them," we are actively involving our kids in the process—exploring housing options together in Taiwan, letting them plan their room setups, and discovering exciting new places as a family. By giving them a sense of agency, we help ease their anxieties and cultivate a growth mindset toward this new chapter.

Designing a Mindful Move

As much as we are focused on helping our kids, we also have to check in with ourselves. Moving is exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally. We’re modeling SEL by practicing self-care, acknowledging our own stress, and leaning on our support systems. When our kids see us handling change with openness and resilience, they internalize those behaviors too.

Transitions are never easy, but they become opportunities for growth and deeper connections with the right emotional tools. As we prepare for Taiwan, we remind ourselves and our kids: this isn’t about leaving or starting over—it’s about building on what we’ve already created. Our experiences, relationships, and lessons come with us, no matter where we go.

For families navigating a similar transition, remember: emotions are part of the moving process, not obstacles to it. By approaching the move with emotional intelligence, you can help your kids—and yourself—thrive through change.