You’re only as happy as your unhappiest child, and for any parent relocating to a new country, our kids are usually our number one priority.
At Whereshome, we know the reality of this feeling, having dealt with it personally and with the majority of our clients. We always keep you, your passions, and the lifestyle you are aiming for at the heart of your move, but when you have little ones, the stakes can feel even higher to get everything right.
Taking your children’s needs and hobbies into consideration is one of many things you can do to help with the transition. Having helped numerous families make their international move, we’ve gathered our expertise and compiled a checklist of 5 simple ways to help prepare your child for an international move.
Preparing your child for an international move by keeping them informed
We are all guilty of underestimating how much our little eavesdroppers are taking in. With a big life change like moving countries, it’s understandable to think that it makes sense to hold off sharing the news until our plans are solidified. But when preparing your child for an international move, it’s very difficult to make these plans without fairly constant discussion.
In our experience, kids figure it out and have questions and worries from the outset. If it’s unrealistic to keep the early planning under wraps, being upfront from the beginning can help avoid confusion and ensure your little ones are feeding off your excited energy, rather than any nerves or fears.
Regular check ins
Once the plans have been shared, it’s important to ensure we’re checking in with our little ones to keep an eye on any thoughts they might have about their move. Preparing your child for an international move involves keeping things light and easy, inviting questions, and letting them know they can share any worries.
Avoid belittling any feelings, which sounds obvious but is easy to do when we’re trying to reassure them. Your child might worry about missing their friends, for example, and it’s tempting to remind them they will make new friends. As adults, we know they will, and that a 5-year-old is unlikely to grieve a lost friendship for long.
But it’s still a huge moment in their little life, and what they will remember about this time is whether we respected their feelings. Holding space for any emotions is key, even if they trigger guilt in us as parents. For inspiration on how to start these conversations, check out the Whereshome Instagram where our founder, Nadine, has documented some of her recent check-ins with her three little boys regarding their relocation back to the UK
Ask their opinion
Even if they are little, children love and appreciate their thoughts and feelings being considered. When preparing your child for an international move, it’s important to make a conscious effort to help them feel their opinion matters, and how this looks will vary based on their age.
For toddlers, simply talking to them about the move is enough, while for older children, it might involve asking their opinion on the schools you are viewing. For teens, they might appreciate being shown the properties you are considering and being asked their thoughts.
Ultimately, the big decisions are down to you, and they know that, but their input might just be helpful for all involved.
Join local Facebook groups
This might seem an odd one, but we find it’s one of the best ways to really learn about the place you’re moving to and to get a vibe of the parenting ethos in the area. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to other parents in your new hometown and to learn about local family hotspots so that when you arrive you might have the option of a park date if you fancy it.
Setting these foundations and connections with like-minded parents is a brilliant way to learn about family-friendly activities in the area and you might just find a friend for you and your little one.
Try not to overthink it
Ultimately, if you’ve maintained a strong and respectful relationship with your children, they will trust your decisions. When preparing your child for an international move, remember that children are hugely adaptable and often take these changes more in their stride than we do!
As long as we lead with love in our decisions and remain respectful of their worries, they will usually do the same for you. Trust your own instincts for your family, and know that as long as they have you, we’ve found they will usually adjust very quickly to their new life.