Packing up and moving to a new country is exciting, but when children are involved, it adds another level of complexity. From school transitions to emotional adjustments, there’s a lot to consider, but moving abroad with children doesn’t have to be stressful.
With solid preparation, the right removal company, and top tips from 1st Move International, your relocation overseas with your kids will be a breeze. In this guide, we share 10 handcrafted tips for moving abroad with children, covering key considerations to keep in mind.
Top Tips for Moving Abroad With Children
1. Make Sure They’re Involved in the Move
Ask them questions throughout the moving process and gather their input on small but meaningful decisions, such as how they want their room set up and which toys to bring. Let them help pack up their rooms so they can be involved and feel important.
Depending on age, you can involve them in choosing an area to live. Look at local parks, activities, and schools with them and hear what they have to say. If they are already involved in sports or other hobbies, research clubs in your new area.
2. Show Them Their New School and Neighbourhood Online
Help your child visualise their new school and journey. Show them photos of the school online, and if possible, arrange a Zoom call with a teacher or future classmates. Use Google Street View to walk them through the route they’ll take, whether by bus or on foot, so they can see landmarks, estimate how long it will take, and start to feel familiar with their new surroundings.
If you are visiting your new home before the big move, take them on a tour of the school and practice the route they’ll take.
3. Tell Them Early So They Can Prepare
Moving abroad is a sensitive and emotional topic for children, regardless of their age. If they have a solid routine, a good school, and a circle of friends, it can be especially tough to grasp the idea of moving abroad. Approach the conversation gently and let them know early on so they can mentally prepare.
The longer they know about the move, the more time they have to accept it. Give them room to ask questions and understand the details of the move. You want to avoid telling them last minute and blindsiding them.
4. Make Sure Phones and Tablets are Fully Charged
It’s important that any entertainment devices like mobile phones, tablets, or Kindles are fully charged for the duration of the move. Make sure you have a couple of movies downloaded if you’re travelling on a long flight or car ride. Get their favourite audiobooks or books downloaded, and ensure you have a couple of games ready to use that don’t require WIFI.
Don’t forget to pack headphones to avoid disturbing other passengers. Putting the devices into ‘airplane mode’ and using them offline will help to save battery, too.
5. Be Prepared When Applying to Schools
When it comes to applying for schools abroad, you’ll want to narrow down your top choices and start applying early on. Get your child’s vaccination records ready, as many schools require this when applying from abroad.
You might need to request school records from their previous school, such as reports, test results, etc. It’s a good idea to have digital and physical copies if you can, and have them translated into the local language.
6. Make it Fun by Creating ‘First Night Boxes’
Make the moving process fun and exciting, especially if you have young children. Create different boxes filled with their favourite toys, new pyjamas, and snacks. You could have one for them to open during the journey, halfway through, and then for the first night in their new home.
They will also act as an incentive to want to carry out the move and make it feel like an adventure.
7. Get Contact Details For Their Friends So They Can Keep in Touch
Make sure to get up-to-date contact details of their closest friends so they can keep in touch after you’ve moved. Let them know that they can become ‘pen pals’ by sending letters for the first few months to keep it exciting.
Set up regular video calls with their friends so they have something to look forward to. Remind them that they don’t have to say goodbye to their friends forever and that they are always just a phone call or message away.
8. Join Clubs When You Arrive
Join local Facebook groups to find out if there are any family-friendly meet-ups in your new area. This is not only a great way for your children to mix with others, but you will also meet friends.
Make sure you enrol your children in any activities they were doing back home so they can keep a sense of routine through unusual times. This will also help them meet like-minded friends who share the same interests.
9. Have Their Room Set Up First
By having their room set up before other rooms, they have a safe space to relax. This also allows you to focus on the rest of the unpacking and setting up other rooms without them getting in the way. Make sure you set up their bed, have their favourite toys and books, and have a few home comforts to keep them entertained for a few hours.
If they are old enough, they can also help unpack and rearrange their new room. This will keep them busy whilst you can focus on unpacking the essential items throughout the house.
10. Stick to Routines as Much as Possible
roughout the time leading up to the move and the transition period, it’s essential to maintain your children’s routine as close to normal as possible. This is to show them that there won’t be any drastic changes, and they can keep doing the things they know and love.
Keep meal times, bedtime, and activities at the same time, even if you’re in between homes during the move. Keeping familiar rituals will help your child to feel safe and calm.
11. Learn Some Local Phrases
If you’re moving somewhere that has a different primary language from the UK, it’s a good idea to start learning some everyday phrases with your children. It’ll help both you and your children feel more confident in engaging with the locals, especially if your child is starting a new school.
Phrases like ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘please’, and ‘thank you’ are good starting points. It’ll be helpful if they know how to say ‘my name is’, ‘can I go to the toilet’, and ‘can I play’ for easy interaction at their new school.
12. Pay Close Attention to Teens
A move may be difficult for all ages, but teenagers often have a strong friendship group and close family they will be leaving behind, so they may take the news harder. It’s important you encourage them to maintain contact with their friends and continue their hobbies and interests.
They may be more open to the move if they have more of a say when it comes to making decisions. If you get them involved in choosing weekend activities or where you’ll do the local food shop, it’ll give them a responsibility and help them adjust.
What To Pack For Them For Moving Day
You’ll want to make sure you have all the essentials on hand to avoid any stress on the day. Here is a list of important items to remember to have with you on the day:
- Their favourite toy
- Snacks for throughout the day
- Water and their favourite water bottle
- Entertainment like books or tablets
- Chargers for tablets or phones
- Headphones
- Blankets or comfort items
- Comfy clothes and a change of clothes in case
Make sure you have a folder with all the documents you’ll need, including:
- Copies of visas
- Passports
- Copy of school records
- Copy of vaccination records
- Packing inventory
- Customs forms and documents
- Any health insurance documents
1st Move International Can Help When Moving Abroad with Children
When you’re ready to make the big move, get in touch with 1st Move International and we’ll take care of the hard work. We can provide you with a tailored quote for your move based on the volume of items you’re bringing with you. If you’re happy with your quote, we’ll pack up your belongings, pack them safely using our shrink-wrap packing technique, and load your container.
Our team of experts has been helping families move abroad for over 25 years and are customs heroes. We make sure you have all the correct documents prepared for a smooth customs process. Our service also qualifies for Fast Track customs clearance, getting you to your new home even quicker.
About 1st Move International
1st Move International are a specialist international moving and shipping company offering packing, shipping and insurance for shipping household goods and personal effects overseas. We have a global reach covering over 80 countries and 6500 worldwide destinations. You can get an international removals quote here or find more information on our international moving services here.
