Blog

Your Guide to Moving Abroad with Children

Moving abroad can be a stressful experience at the best of times. If you have children it can be even more daunting, but the right sort of preparation and planning should solve any problems and help to ensure your move goes smoothly.

Norfolk international removals company Hamiltons Removals has a wealth of experience in helping families move to destinations in Europe, North America, Canada and many other worldwide destinations. Here are our top tips for making sure that your children can enjoy moving abroad as much as you do.

Talk to Them About the Move

It is important that your children feel part of the process, so you need to explain to them the reasons for the move at an early stage. Make sure you listen to any concerns they have and encourage them to find out more about where they are moving to themselves – they may even think of something you haven’t.

Exploring what the new area has to offer online can throw up a range of opportunities, such as new hobbies for them to take up. For instance, if you are relocating to Switzerland or Austria, your children might enjoy a taste of winter sports, and if you are moving to the US they could take up cheerleading or American sports like baseball.

Know the Legal Position

Making sure you have all the relevant documentation for the children as well as yourself is just the start. There are also other legal formalities to bear in mind when moving abroad, so you will need to acquaint yourself with all the rules and regulations, and the benefits your children are entitled to, which may include free language tuition. Hamiltons Removals will be able to happy to provide advice about all the paperwork you will need for your chosen country, as well as customs information and relocation guides.

Selecting Their School

This will be one of the most important factors for both you and your children when starting a new life abroad, and again forward planning is essential. Apart from the basics of where it is and how they will get there, you will also need to know what is on the curriculum and whether they have to learn a new language. With teenagers, exams are of course a major consideration.

If possible, talk to other parents and expats and the local education authorities both in this country and in your chosen destination. This way you can learn many details about how schools operate and what the culture is like, as well as at what age your child goes to what school, what exams they have to take, and when the holidays are.

Again, it is a good idea to make sure your children are fully involved in all the decision making. If there is a choice, for instance between the local state school or an internationally accredited day or boarding school, they may have a strong view on which they would prefer.

One good idea is to move during your new country’s main holiday. This will not necessarily be in our UK summer, depending on where you are moving to. The extra few weeks before school starts can be vital in giving your children the chance to learn some of the new language and culture before they start school.

What Age is Best?

Generally younger children are thought to be more adaptable than older ones, and might find any move less difficult. They also could find learning a new language and skills quite natural. If your children are older or in their teens, they might be more concerned about leaving friends behind.

If this is the case, you could let them invite a friend over to stay over during the holidays, or arrange a visit to stay with friends back in the UK, so they have something to look forward to.

Also, in these days of instant internet access, social media and Skype, there is no need for your children to feel isolated from their friends, even when they are on the other side of the world. If you make sure you have got all the relevant internet connections and accounts sorted out in advance, they will be able to chat to friends easily while they get used to their new life.

Norfolk international removals experts Hamiltons Removals can help organise your move to a wide range of countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Our European destinations include France, Germany, Italy, Austria and the Netherlands. As part of our services we also offer storage facilities at completely secure and alarmed premises in Harleston. Click on the link for an online removal quote.