Your family has recently immigrated to a new country and have decided to make a home in Illinois. While you are excited to be in the United States and looking forward to seizing new opportunities, your drastic move required you to uproot your family and transplant them in a new place. Your children in particular, are going to need some time and plenty of support as they adjust to their new surroundings, home and culture. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help them ease into their new normal without compromising the importance of maintaining your own culture and traditions.
According to The Learning Community, the challenges your family will face could be related to acquiring a job, finding housing, learning about how the educational system works and learning the English language. In your efforts to help your children cope and thrive in their new home, here are some of the things you can do:
- Make learning the English language a priority. However, continue to speak your native language at home so your children can maintain their own heritage and culture.
- Be observant and teach your children to do the same. Watching how Americans do things can be a valuable way to learn about what behaviors are appropriate.
- Do not be afraid to ask other people for help. Introduce yourself and make friends who can provide support and give you valuable information about resources you can use.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.
