5 Things Children Struggle With In A New Country

Change is never easy, let alone for a child. The slightest difference in routine is equivalent to declaring war in the child’s brain. But it is understandable since they are figuring out how to get around in this world, but it is for that reason that it is not easy to accept—especially moving to a new country.

I will focus on a couple of things that children might experience after moving to a new country, more specifically to the United States:

1. Everyone talks funny. Do you know how the minions from Despicable Me speak? Sometimes you can make out a few words here and there because they are actual words, but usually, it sounds like the noise that causes frustration. Sure, the minions are funny, but when that is all you hear 24/7, it is far from amusing. This communication barrier has many other upsetting repercussions.

2. School is impossible. Learning is impossible when you don’t understand the basic phrases. School is challenging in itself, and when you are learning to read and write, you have to do it in a new language that sounds like gibberish. Sure, some schools might have ESL programs, but most of the time, the teachers only speak English, so how useful is that?

3. Your country of origin is suddenly fantastic. This one might not be all that bad, but as a child, it is weird having to explain what seems indifferent to you. The most common thing an immigrant might hear is, “can you say something in your language?”. It’s awkward to think of something to say on the spot. But people’s curiosity is understandable!

4. You try to make sense of the conflicting cultures. As you might know, friends become one of the most influential factors in a person’s life early on. At the same time, you must obey your parents. For example, in the States, the sense of identity relies heavily on independence, while Hispanic cultures emphasize family and communal unity. Choosing what cultural trends to keep and adapt to isn’t easy. You might please one side but not the other. (I’ll post a link on Independent vs. Interdependent cultures below)

5. You quickly learn about stereotypes. If you are Hispanic, people automatically assume you play soccer and love eating spicy food and tacos. Those things might be valid for many Mexicans, but not all. There might be non-Mexicans who fit that description as well. Here is a funny anecdote: a new friend invited me to play soccer during recess. I told her I had never played, and she said, “But aren’t you Mexican?”. She was genuinely confused, so I explained that girls rarely played soccer in Mexico (at least that was the case when I was little). 

There are many others that I could go into. I might do other posts on the different experiences based on the age of arrival and other posts talking about the positive side of moving to a new country.  

If you have recently moved or know someone who has, please be patient. It might take some time to get used to a new place, but eventually, it happens. One day you’ll accept the reality and carry on with your life. Remember that God’s plan is perfect. You might be angry or sad about the move, but you will be okay.

Parents, these might seem insignificant, but to children, they are stressful! Depending on what age they moved, it is harder to adapt to the new normalities of the country. Not only that, but these things are not typical for a child to experience, so being in those situations is uncomfortable.

Moving to a new country is a BIG adjustment!! Please be patient and caring with your children! Explain to them they do not need to be afraid of what others might think.

To learn more about Independent vs. Interdependent Culture, click here. It is essential to know the difference, given that it can make things more complicated for a child if they are growing up with a particular culture but are interacting with one that values different personal characteristics!

Challenge of today: Give praise for where you are today and make the best of the situation