Satellite Babies

The phenomenon of “satellite babies” — children separated from parents and in care of relatives abroad — is more common across immigrant communities than once thought, says a Toronto study.

The custom of temporarily boarding young children with overseas relatives — a strategy that helps newcomers cope with the stress of migration — is not limited to the Chinese, but is also common among South Asian, African and Caribbean immigrants.

However, according to the York University study, the patterns of parent-child separation including timing and length of separation are distinct among those communities.

– Toronto Star