//www.youtube.com/embed/7aFRf3mGvvE
Moving overseas can feel daunting enough for parents, never mind tackling it with children in tow. Luckily, we’ve gathered advice from Mykidstime parents who have made the move themselves, and pulled it together into this practical mini-guide to moving overseas with children.
#1. Involve the children in the huge family ‘adventure’ of moving overseas.
Talk to your children about the country you’re moving to, and explain why you’re moving. Listen to their concerns and try to find real answers to their questions. For older children, working on a mini scrapbook with facts and pictures about the new country can help make the move feel exciting rather than frightening.
#2. Help them stay in touch with friends
Even if you’re moving to the other side of the world, it doesn’t mean your children have to lose contact with their friends. Make sure older children and teens know they can keep in touch using video calls, messaging apps and social media, whichever they and their friends already use.
#3. Try to time your move for school years
Where possible, it’s worth timing your move for the beginning of a new school year. Starting a new school at the start of the year is always easier than coming in part-way through. So if you can, aim for a move to the southern hemisphere around January, or to the northern hemisphere around August.
Here are some tips on settling in your child when moving overseas:
#4. Prepare your children for any differences in the foreign country.
A friend of mine was once preparing her children for a move to Australia, and part of that was getting them into the habit of checking their shoes for spiders before putting them on! Small, practical preparations like this can help children feel more in control of what’s ahead.
#5. Get the kids to help decide what stays and what goes
Getting down to the nitty-gritty of moving mainly comes down to packing. You’ll need to decide what travels with you, what gets sold or given away, what goes into storage, and what gets shipped. Getting the kids involved in decisions about their own belongings — what stays and what goes — helps them feel part of the process rather than have it happen to them.
Related: Moving House with Children
#6. Pack essential items to go with you on your initial journey
It can take anywhere from six weeks to three months for shipped items to arrive, so pack the key essentials in your luggage, as you’ll be without most of your possessions for a while. If you’re lucky enough to have support in your new country, that helps too. When one of our contributors moved home to Ireland from New Zealand, they only packed and shipped their belongings in the final days before leaving, because they were moving in with family and knew they’d need less right away.
#7. Double check the favourite toys are travelling with you too!
Make sure children get to choose a couple of smaller toys to keep with them while the rest are packed away. It’s worth remembering that packed toys may not be accessible for up to three months, so the ones that travel with you matter.
Be Positive
Moving overseas is stressful, but it’s important to stay positive and excited about the move where you can. Even young toddlers are sensitive to change, so if parents are anxious about the move, children are likely to pick up on that too.
Good luck with the move!
Do you have any tips to share on moving overseas with children? Share them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should we allow for shipped belongings to arrive when moving overseas?
It varies, but families often find it takes anywhere from six weeks to three months. It’s a good idea to pack essential items in your travel luggage so you’re not without the basics during that gap.
How can children keep in touch with friends after an overseas move?
Video calls, messaging apps and social media all make it easier for children, especially older children and teens, to stay connected with friends back home, even from the other side of the world.
Is it better to move overseas at the start of a school year?
Where possible, yes. Starting a new school at the beginning of the school year tends to be an easier transition than joining part-way through term.
How can I help my child feel involved in an overseas move?
Include them in age-appropriate parts of the process, from talking through the reasons for the move to letting them help decide what belongings travel with the family and what gets packed away.
Related Articles
- The Mykidstime Guide to Moving House with Children
- Helping Your Child Settle Into a New School
- Keeping Family Traditions Alive When You Move Abroad
Save This for Later
Planning a big move takes time, so why not save this guide and come back to it as you work through your own moving checklist. Browse our family life hub for more practical guides on life’s big transitions.
Get Weekly Family Ideas
Want more practical parenting tips like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Mykidstime newsletter for weekly ideas, competitions and offers — it’s free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
