Top Expat Tips for Families

Moving to another country with kids 

can be a stressful & intense experience. 

After going through that process with a baby,
I felt that every little piece of advice counts & helps.

So, when I was recently asked to contribute 

to HiFX's expat tip campaign,

I was delighted to share my top expat tips  
for families moving abroad.

Source

Before the Move

1. Prepare & familiarise children with the new country. 

Talk to them about the new home,  

read them books, show them pictures. 

2. When choosing your new home, 

make sure it is within the catchment area 

of good & suitable schools. 

3. Try to take some favourite toys/decorative objects with you. 

Cargo shipping can take a while to arrive 

and children will be happy to find 

familiar objects in their new room. 

Source

After the Move 

4. Plan a fun family activity in your new city 
as soon as you move {unpacking can wait}. 
Nothing beats expat blues more efficiently 
than playing tourists and discovering new places.

5. Find your nearest children's centres & playgroups. 
By socialising and making new friends, 
children adapt more easily to the new reality. 

6. It is OK to feel sad/lost/homesick. 
It's part of the expat process.  

Children should be encouraged to express those feelings; 

this will make the transition easier.