If adults are anxious about world tensions, then imagine what some expatriate children are feeling and thinking. But it's not only talk of war that may upset them.

All kinds of situations — whether they are local or global, personal or community-wide — can make expat kids feel stressed, frustrated, hopeless or insecure. Depending on the assignment location, they could already be experiencing these feelings because of routine security threats.

Although you may not have direct contact with your expatriate employees' children, you can help them help their children.

After all, employees who spend the workday worrying about their children's ability to cope with a traumatic event or situation, or how to talk with their children about it, will be less productive.

The US-based Families and Work Institute has compiled a short guide for parents and educators that can be valuable in case of war, a terrorist attack, or even the death of a loved one.

The guide is divided by age groups:

• infants to age 3
• ages 3 to 7 (pre-kindergarten to second grade)
• ages 7 to 11 (third to fifth grade)
• ages 11 to 14 (sixth to eighth grade)
• ages 14-18 (ninth to 12th grade)

While a younger child may have irrational fears and nightmares, an older child may not pay attention to school work or could have headaches or stomachaches.

A 5-year-old may need repeated assurances that people care about her. A 12-year-old can benefit from spending time with his trusted friends and adults.

You can download the guide here.

For more information, see the Families and Work Institute website:

www.familiesandwork.org

March 2003