You’re heading overseas! Congratulations! That obviously means everyone in your family is automatically on board and super excited to eat some authentic German Schnitzel or get really into Japanimation or Spanish Flamenco dancing or whatever the local specialty is, right? In a perfect world, the answer would be yes, but as we all know, this world ain’t perfect! If you’re faced with convincing a wayward teenager or over-dramatic 4th grader that your new OCONUS orders are something to be excited about, this list is for you.
Here are 6 things to do to get your kids on board with an OCONUS move:
1. Food
What kid doesn’t like food? Each country or overseas location you may be headed to has their own culinary treats, which often go hand in hand with local festivals that are always fun for families. You may want to start with the food the area is most known for. If you are headed to Guam, you can talk up the classic side dishes of red rice, fina’denne’ and chicken kelaguen which are staples at the many fiestas you’ll find on the island. Germany, of course, has pretzels and the world’s largest pretzel festival, where pretzels are thrown at you from floats. Alaska has more to offer than amazing views…it also has amazing salmon and blackberries, which is why festivals for both are held annually. With a little research you can find something for every taste bud in your family, no matter where you are headed. And if all else fails, there are ice cream shops in nearly every corner of the world!
2. Activities
Before you head to a new location make sure you know about area theme parks, pools, camps and local athletics. Not every place will have every sport for your child to play, but each location will have some kind of activity, whether it’s surfing or tae kwon do. Overseas bases often have far more on-base activities than stateside installations. A word of warning though, make sure that whatever you research online and tell your kids about will be open or offered after you arrive. The fastest way to disappoint a kid who is already not sure about a new place is for the one thing they were looking forward to, to not be an option. This may take an email or a phone call, but it will be worth it in the end.
3. Keeping in touch with friends
It is hard leaving friends, especially when you are a kid. One way to help your child with their big feelings about moving is to show them that this move doesn’t mean they won’t be able to communicate with their friends. If your child is old enough to have a phone, go ahead and put some of the new apps on their phone that they can use while they are overseas. What’sApp is a popular one that anyone, anywhere in the world can talk to their friend with as long as they have wifi or cell service. Messenger Kids is also a great way for younger kids to keep in touch. Facetime is a familiar and easy way for your kids to ‘see’ their friends, even when they’re an ocean away. If your children are on social media, most popular apps are also accessible anywhere you may be headed.
4. Fun care packages for friends
Speaking of friends, another way to get your child excited about a new location is to show them the kind of fun things you can put in a care package for their friends. Themed care packages are so fun to give and receive and if your child starts to talk them up to their friends now, it will feel like a way to stay connected that they have even before you move. Any place overseas will have fun local items for a great care package. Look into local markets and Google candies from wherever you’re headed and the possibilities are endless!
5. Proximity to other places
Maybe where you’re going won’t be the big sell, but the region may be. If you’re headed to Europe, you can be in another country in a matter of hours, sometimes even less time! Are your kids Harry Potter fans? You can take a trip to England and immerse yourself in all things Potter. The Swiss Alps, the Amalfi Coast, the Canals of Amsterdam…so many options to get excited about. Maybe your child isn’t thrilled about South Korea…they would probably be excited about an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand though. The point is, wherever you are going, even if it is super isolated…we’re talking to you Kwajalein Atoll…there are options for travel. It may be a boat ride to another island in the area or you may have to get on a plane, but there are options. Most people cannot afford a vacation on a whim, so this will take some planning too, but if you can swing it, this will be something your child can look forward to.
6. Never let them hear you talk negatively about your new location
Last but not least, in fact, this is the most important tip on this list: Always talk positively about your new location. Even if you are not thrilled, if you want your kids to be excited, do not let them hear you talk badly about it. They will hear you and that will form their opinion of their new home. If you tell them it’s going to be great, but tell all your friends in front of them that you are not looking forward to it, they are going to have a negative opinion of it before your HHG is even picked up. Don’t lie about it…there will be challenges with any new location, but pump up the positives like it is your job, because as a parent, it kind of is your job. Our kids did not sign up for this life and yet we drag them all over the globe, we owe it to them to get excited about where they are heading next. In all the positivity, you may just get excited about it, too!