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.
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
I was delighted to share my top expat tips
for families moving abroad.
for families moving abroad.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
You are so wise... Lots of great tips here. If I can add one? If your child isn't happy with the school that you have chosen, by all means give it time, but if they still aren't happy, look to move them. This is something I really wish I had done with our first expat location. But hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it? Hope all is well! Emma :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma, that is a great & very helpful tip.
DeleteYes, it's wonderful being an expat, despite the difficult moments!
Greetings from sunny London :)
Really a well penned post... :)
ReplyDeletecan you please advise few best places to go with kids in London?
Hi, you can have a look in the London for Kids section of the blog;
Deletethere are lots of fun things you can do in London with children.