An expat child is a child who lives in a foreign country with their family, usually due to their parents’ work.
Expat children have to adjust to these changes. On the one hand, they may have the opportunity to learn a new language, experience a different culture, and make new friends. On the other hand, they may have to deal with homesickness, cultural differences, and language barriers.
Challenges of Adjusting to a New Culture
1- Language barriers
Language barriers can be a major challenge for expat children. They may have difficulty understanding the language of their new home, which can make it difficult for them to communicate with their peers and teachers. Additionally, they may struggle to keep up with their studies if the language of instruction is different from their native language.
A speech therapist can help with language barriers. They can assess a child‘s language skills and provide strategies to help them understand and communicate in their new language. Additionally, they can provide support and guidance to help the child adjust to their new environment.
- Ms Pauline Yvelin
is a charming speech and language therapist working at the Kensington International Clinic. She is fluent in French and English and is used to working with children and adolescents to resolve communication disorders, which can make it difficult or impossible to integrate well at school, culturally, professionally and socially.
Ms Yvelin intervenes when the child :
- struggles to learn a new language
- fails to learn to read
- fails to write in an understandable way
- does not understand logical reasoning
- has an articulation problem
- stutters
- has a speech impediment
2- Cultural differences
Cultural differences and living in a new environment can be a challenge for expat children. They may have to adjust to different customs, values, and beliefs, new climate, different food, and unfamiliar surroundings which can be difficult to understand and accept.
They may also have difficulty understanding the cultural norms of their new home, which can lead to feelings of confusion and isolation. Additionally, they may have to deal with homesickness and feelings of isolation due to being away from family and friends.
A mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can help expat children overcome these types of issues. They can assess the child‘s mental health and provide strategies to help them cope with their feelings of isolation.
Challenges of Adjusting to a New School System
1- Difficulties understanding the curriculum and/or the teaching style
Difficulties understanding the curriculum and/or the teaching style can be a challenge for expat children. They may have difficulty understanding the language of instruction, which can negatively affect their academic success. A different teaching style can also cause confusion and frustration. A tutor or educational advisor can help expatriate children understand the curriculum and/or teaching style and thus enable them to succeed and thrive in their new school setting.
2- Difficulties making new friends
If the language and culture of the new country is a barrier for the child, this may also limit communication with peers. This situation will only reinforce the sense of isolation created by the geographical distance from family and friends. A school counsellor or a member of the teaching team can encourage links between children through various initiatives (welcoming, setting up pairs, etc.).
Meet the team that can support your child
The Kensington International Clinic has a team of leading practitioners who can help expatriate children feel more comfortable in their new environment.
- Mr Gabriel Rafi
is a renowned neuropsychologist, who specialises in children and teenagers’ development. Professionals and families trust his method and refer many families to him for quality care. He can help expat children by assessing their cognitive and emotional functioning. Mr Rafi can provide strategies to help the children adjust to their new environment and cope with difficulties they may be facing. Additionally, he can provide support and guidance to help the child understand and manage their emotions. His availability for families, his human warmth and his sense of priorities are qualities highly appreciated by families and patients.
-
Adeline O’Flynn
is a psychotherapist who provides individual and familial therapy for expats. She helps her clients improve their lives, develop better cognitive and emotional
skills, reduce symptoms of isolations and loneliness and cope with various challenges.
- Dr Denise Vohwinkel
is a child psychiatrist. She can diagnose and put words to a psychological problem (which, moreover, in children often takes on a somatic aspect). She also specialises in attention disorders, depression, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, reactionary disorders, etc.
In relatively rare cases, Dr. Vohwinkel can also prescribe medication when necessary.
She offers family therapy because the subtleties between family and individual problems are more important than in adult psychiatry.
Dr. Vohwinkel can also, at the request of parents, make the link with the school to help the child feel better understood in his or her school environment.
- Ms Morgane Le Cleuyou
is a therapist who has worked for many years with children and young people, which has taught her the importance of a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach. She is now entirely focused on personal development and offers a safe space for introspection, acceptance and personal growth.She uses techniques and tools such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). This helps children and teenagers to:- work on school difficulties (lack of confidence in their abilities, learning affected by anxiety, managing anxieties related to learning difficulties).
– emotional preparation before taking exams, entrance exams, the brevet des collèges or the baccalauréat
– work on self-esteem and the penalising manifestations of lack of self-confidence
– management of emotions
Appointment with Mrs Le Cleuyou
- Mrs Nicola Jane Gregory
is a psychotherapist who has worked as a Family Therapist for over 20 years in varying contexts. Since 2005, she has worked with families worldwide, in multicultural environments, and with families with differing languages, cultures, and values. As a Family Therapist and a habitual ex-pat, she is well-positioned to help your children get through the challenges you are currently facing.
