Whether you have been offered a lucrative job abroad, or just fancy a change for yourself and your family, you may be considering moving to another country. This could be even more tempting if you are swapping grey skies and cloudy weather for sunshine and long days at the beach. However, the process of moving can be particularly difficult for children, especially when it means moving to a new country entirely.
With that in mind, here are some things you can do to make moving country easier.
1: Plan far, far ahead.
Take away some of the stress associated with moving home by ensuring that you have a strong plan in place ahead of time. Make a list of everything you need to do before moving, what you need to take and what you need to have on hand on arrival at your new home. This list should be the first thing you check each day. Whilst this means organizing to have your luggage and furniture transported, you also need to ensure you have the appropriate visa. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources online that can guide you through the process of obtaining the correct visa. For example, if you are considering a move to the UK, you may wish to speak to an indefinite leave to remain lawyer, who can help make the process much more straightforward.
2: Take away the fear
Children need to have a ‘safe space’. This is a place where they are surrounded by things that are comfortable and familiar to them and usually is their family home. When you move to a new country, not only are they losing this place, but they may also be moving away from their friends and family. As a result, they may be experiencing heightened feelings of anxiety, especially as the next step is ‘unknown’. One way you can help minimize this fear is by taking the time to introduce them to their new home. If you can’t visit the house before moving, show them plenty of pictures and videos of the house and the surrounding area. Make a list of all the fun things you can do together when you get there.
3: Involve them in the process
When you move to a new home, you are presented with the exciting challenge of decorating the space and making it your own. Whether you are giving it a budget makeover, or splashing out on new furniture – you should try to find a way to involve your little one in the process. For example, you can ask their opinion on things you are buying or allow them to choose what color you will paint their new room. Although you will ultimately make the final decisions, letting them feel as though their voice is heard is a great way to make them feel more comfortable.
4: Keep in touch
Another great way to help the process of moving easier for your children is to keep in touch with those they have left behind. This includes any friends they have made at school, as the process of moving can make them feel rather isolated. Whether they become pen-pals or continue to celebrate each other’s birthdays with a virtual party. Let them know that distance does not mean a friendship has to end, and that they can always stay in close contact.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.
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