Top Tips When Planning To Move Your Family Abroad

Whilst some families will live in the same town for their whole lives and only ever move around the corner or a few streets down, some will choose to move their family abroad. There is no right or wrong in this regard and deciding to move is a personal choice, one that is often influenced by a number of different factors. However, it is actually becoming more common than ever before for families to decide to move to a new country. 

Of course, there really is no denying that moving abroad can be an incredibly exciting fresh start and a fantastic chance for every member of your family to learn and grow in a completely new environment. Yet, lots of people worry about moving to a new city let alone to a new country and the whole process can be quite overwhelming, especially for your little ones. 

Depending on how old your children are, the move will affect them in different ways and it is hard to know how they will react to the whole process, after all, everyone is different. But, there are a few things that you can do as a parent to help make the moving process easier for them and a lot of these will happen during the planning process before you have packed up your home and got on an aeroplane. So, to help any families who are wanting to move to another country, below are some tips that may be beneficial. 

Visit where you’re moving to in advance 

It can be difficult for adults to visualise their new life abroad when they’ve never visited the country that they’re moving to, so for children, this can be impossible. If you’re able to, try and visit the place you’re going to be moving to at least once before you actually move. This will allow both you and your family to experience the culture first hand and gain a helpful insight into what life is going to be like. This can be really beneficial and help you to get excited too. 

Teach your little ones the basics of the language 

As you’re probably aware, if you’re moving to a country where you aren’t fluent in the language, it is always important to at least learn the basics before you move. Not being able to understand the people around you can be incredibly isolating and it is likely that your children will be worried about being able to communicate with others. Ensure that when you’re learning the language, you get the whole family involved and go over the basics on a regular basis to get used to it. 

Find out everything about the local schools 

For children of any age, moving to a new school can be incredibly nerve-wracking and it is likely that this will be one of the things your little ones are worrying about the most. In order to help put their mind at ease, try to find out as much as possible about the new school before their first day and if you’re able to visit in advance, this may be really helpful. If your children know things like what to expect and how they should dress on their first day, it can put their mind at ease. 

Look into food and check you can get your children’s favourites 

Food is often one of the biggest changes for everyone and if your children are fussy eaters, they might be really concerned about what they’re going to eat. It is beneficial to look into the local cuisine and find out what types of food you’re easily able to pick up in a supermarket. Also, you may want to check whether you’re able to buy British food abroad and you can then reassure your children that they won’t have to go without their favourite foods as they settle in. 

Ensure your children are involved in the process

Many expat families will agree that this is one of the most important things to do. As soon as you know you’re going to be moving abroad, you should tell your children and get them involved in the planning process. You can then ensure that they never feel like they’re left in the dark and that they understand exactly what’s happening. Try to discuss the move as well as everyone’s feelings and concerns as openly as possible, so your children don’t let things build up. 

Answer any questions they may have honestly 

It is highly likely that your children will have lots of questions and no matter how silly these may seem to you, take them seriously and try to answer them as honestly as you can. Don’t ever dismiss the things your children want to know, no matter whether they’re relating to what they can pack or when they’ll be coming home. Even if the questions are difficult to answer and you’re worried about their reaction, lying to them will likely make things worse in the long run. 

Moving your family abroad 

Hopefully, the information above will be beneficial to any families who are planning to move abroad. There is no denying that all of these little things can make such a huge difference to how your little ones feel both before you move and also during their first few weeks and months in your new home. Of course, knowing that your children are handling the process well will make you as parents much more relaxed too, so you can get excited about starting a brand new life for your family abroad. 

Wherever you’re planning on moving to, if your little ones are worried about food, don’t worry, here at British Essentials we make it incredibly easy to buy British food abroad. On our website, you will find a huge range of British products and you can guarantee that we can supply you with all of your favourite British foods and any other bits and bobs you’re missing when you live in a different country. So, you will never need to worry about being able to buy British food abroad and you can reassure your little ones in this regard.