Tips to support the mental health of internationally mobile children

Is your family navigating the complexities of raising or educating children in a constantly changing environment?
Are you wondering about the effect a childhood spent in various countries will have on your children?

Together with Natasha Winnard, international youth empowerment consultant, and Lena Lee, author of Girl Uprooted, we delve into the challenges and lasting impacts of frequent relocations on children. We share tips to support the mental health of children navigating language and curriculum transitions.

We covered topics like:
🔸 Understanding Limits: How frequent moves affect a child's sense of stability and identity.
🔸 Personal Story: Insights from moving countries every three years – new house, school, friends, language, and culture.
🔸Mental Health: The hidden struggles - from childhood to adulthood. Early signs and lasting impacts.
🔸 Practical Tips: How to build continuity in a child's education and life amidst frequent relocations.
🔸 Parental Guidance: The importance of listening and truly understanding what your child is going through.
🔸 Educational Support: The role of educators in providing stability and understanding unique student needs.

0:00 Introduction
2:27 Children are not infinitely adaptable
5:40 TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and generally children with a mobile childhood
8:05 What you see is not everything...
17:45 How to build a sense of continuity and stability with regards to school curricula, language of education and more...
34:00 What support is there for our children to smoothly transition between one school system/curriculum and language to the other?
35:09 The importance of actively listening (and reading in between the lines...)
39:09 About support networks: where to find them, how to build them...
44:20 When parents are not able to help (i.e. listen and understand) other trusted adults maybe can
46:58 Each child is different
52:20 Mental health first aid https://mhfainternational.org
54:49 Actively seek resources!










🌍Your child's adaptability has limits. Let's explore how to support them through the transitions and ensure they thrive.🌍

Website mentioned during the interview:
https://mhfainternational.org

Natasha Winnard is an international youth empowerment consultant fueled by a passion to support and guide young people to thrive. She has worked with amazing children, young people, families and educators for more than 25 years as an international educator, K-12 (3-18 years) comprehensive (academic, social and emotional) counsellor/pastoral care and safeguarding lead, college, university and future pathways counsellor, mentor and volunteer in schools and communities in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Natasha Winnard Consultancy provides holistic, personalised guidance for young people and their families looking for support in the world of international education.

Lena Lee was born in South Korea but grew up moving countries every three years. As a Third Culture Kid, she has lived in Seoul, Paris, Oslo, Kuala Lumpur and New Jersey. After studying Human Sciences at Oxford University, Lena has been working in finance. Girl Uprooted is her first book. She lives in London, a place she now calls home(ish).

Where and how you can get in contact with Natasha and Lena:
Natasha Winnard Consultancy
Telephone/WhatsApp: +55 (21) 97520 9500
Website: https://www.natashawinnard.com/
Linkedin:   / natashawinnard  
Instagram: @natashawinnardconsultancy

Lena Lee
Website: https://thelenalee.com/
LinkedIn:   / thelenalee  
Instagram: @thelenalee


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