
Growing up in safe Singapore makes for an idyllic childhood. But when it comes to preparing kids for life in the big wide world, the earlier we start, the better...
Parents of Singapore – whether you’re an expat family or born and bred in this city, it’s time we asked ourselves if we’re equipping our children with enough life skills to cope on their own out there in the world. There are SO many things we love about living in Singapore. From the fabulous local food scene to the beach, parks and playgrounds, the year-round warm weather to the easy-peasy vacation spots on our doorstep… Singapore has it all and more.
Our kids have an idyllic childhood spent barefoot, tanned, and happy in one of the world’s safest cities. But what happens when it’s time to repatriate to home countries or when university and overseas education is beckoning? What do we do about preparing our kids for life overseas and the scary realities of the big wide world? And how can we turn our – let’s face it – slightly naive kids into street-smart individuals who can transition into a life of independence? Here’s our advice…
Preparing our kids for life outside of Singapore
The pros and cons of living in a safe bubble
For many of us, the pros are huge when it comes to living in a safe environment like Singapore. Our kids think nothing of chope-ing a table with a mobile phone and would think we had gone mad if we suggested accompanying our tweens to a public toilet. But this complacency is exactly why life could be tough when it’s time to move away from the safety of Singapore.
Our kids need to get to grips with the fact that overseas, there are no helpers to run a forgotten book to class. Teens wouldn’t be caught calling us ‘mummy’, and shoes need to be worn at ALL times. There are also serious issues to prep for: no one wants to have to warn their kids about stranger danger, muggings, and *shudder* worse. But are we doing our kids a disservice by not arming them with the less savoury aspects of life beyond Singapore?
What happens when our kids move overseas?
With a teenager approaching 17 years old, relocation is always on my mind. He wants to join the police force when he’s older – a career which I know will be great for him in all respects except one. How can he be a street-savvy copper in London when he hasn’t got the faintest idea of how tough the UK can be? He has lived here since he was five years old, and his idea of wild ‘n’ crazy is choosing spicy noodles over chicken ones in 7/11. He has NO idea what teens of his age can – and do – get up to in England. So how is he going to chase down hardened criminals when he can barely chase down his mop of unruly hair? We are going to have to prepare him for life overseas and toughen him up, stat.
Can we turn them into street-wise kids?

My kids don’t know the UK. To them, it’s an exotic place with great sausage rolls and cool farm animals. They are tourists in their own country, and it’s time to start sharing some of the less delightful aspects of life back in Blighty. And, if you’re from a major city anywhere else in the world, this all applies! When we go back, they will stick out from their classmates. After all, they sound different, they act different, and they don’t have a Scooby-Doo what a Scooby-Doo is (that’s London speak for ‘clue’ – these things WILL trip them up).
Tips to prepare your kids for life overseas
Luckily, there are some tips and tricks that we, as parents, can do to help prepare our kids for life overseas and away from the safety of Singapore. We’ve got some easy advice that everyone in this predicament can try, plus some more ‘advanced’ methods too!
1. Read newspapers and watch news channels from overseas
There is going to be bad stuff out there, so filter appropriately. Send news articles to your teen to help them brush up on local culture.
2. Watch TV shows and listen to radio stations from overseas
Particularly channels from your own country if you’re a foreigner here or from the country you’re considering moving to. Exposing them to as much pop culture and real-life scaries as possible will definitely help.
3. Make kids take responsibility for their own stuff
If they lose a favourite toy (or mobile phone!), then that’s just tough luck. They need to grasp that looking after their things is essential if they want to keep them. They also need to know that chope-ing is NOT a thing outside Singapore! Leave your phone on a table in a food court anywhere else in the world, and you can guarantee it won’t be there when you get back.
4. Keep your own belongings safe!
If you – the parents – have gotten into the habit of leaving your belongings on a park bench or cafe table or letting them out of your sight, snap out of it. Now. Always make sure your bag is securely shut and keep it close when you’re in crowds. The kids will pick up on this sense of cautiousness.
5. Keep your phone (and other valuables) hidden
Same goes if you walk around the street using your phone. Yes, phones DO get swiped out of your hands by passing cyclists all around the world. And sadly, kids and teens do get mugged. My parents taught me not to walk around flashing expensive goods and to be careful when carrying cash. It’s worth passing this on to our kids too.
6. Get kids of all ages to help with the housework
There won’t be smiley-faced aunties at their beck and call outside of Asia. And mummy won’t have time to dash to school with forgotten PE kits. Plus, the dirty washing will not walk to the laundry bin by itself. And while we’re at it, start teaching the kids how to cook.
7. Talking about stranger danger is essential
First, define who a stranger is (keep it precise with younger kids and honest with older kids). And explain why talking to strangers can be risky. There are lots of great books for kids that cover this topic.
It can be a scary ol’ world out there. But if we give our kids the life skills they need for a life beyond Singapore, you know what? They’ll be just fine.
This article was originally written by Tracy Tristam in 2017 and updated by Raiz Redwan in 2024.