5 simple ways to help prepare your child for an international move

You’re only as happy as your unhappiest child and for any parent relocating to a new country, our kids are usually our number one priority. At WheresHome we know the reality of this feeling, having dealt with it on a personal level and with the majority of our clients. We always keep you, your passions and the lifestyle you are aiming for at the heart of your move but when you have little ones the stakes can feel even higher to get this nailed. Taking your children’s needs and hobby’s in to consideration is one of many things you can do to help your kids with the transition. Having helped numerous families make their international move, we’ve gathered all our expertise and compiled our checklist of 5 simple ways to help prepare your child for an international move.

Keep them involved from the beginning

We are all guilty of underestimating how much our little eaves-droppers are taking in. With a big life change like moving countries, it’s understandable to think that it makes sense to hold off sharing the news until our plans are solidified. But ultimately, it’s very difficult to make these kinds of plans without fairly constant discussion. In our experience, kids figure it out and have questions and worries from the outset. If it’s unrealistic for you to keep the early planning under wraps, being up front from the beginning can avoid any confusion and worry and ensure your little ones are feeding off your excited energy, rather than any nerves and fears.

Regular check ins

Once the plans have been shared, it’s important to ensure we’re checking in with our little ones to keep an eye on any thoughts they might have about their move. Ultimately the key is to keep it light and easy, invite questions and let them know they are able to share any worries. Avoid belittling any feelings, which sounds obvious but it’s so easy to do when we’re trying to reassure them. Your child might worry about missing their friends for example and it’s easy to just remind them that they will make new friends. As adults, we know that of course they will and that it’s unlikely a 5-year-old will grieve a lost friendship for too long. But, it’s still a huge thing in their little life at that moment and what they will remember about this time is whether we respected their feelings around the situation. Holding space for any feelings is key, even if they trigger feelings of guilt in us as parents. If you’d like some inspiration on how to kick off these conversations, check out the WheresHome Instagram where our founder, Nadine has been documenting some of her recent check-ins with her 3 little boys regarding their relocation back to the UK.

Ask their opinion

Even if they are little, children love and appreciate their thoughts and feelings being considered. It’s important to make a conscious effort to help them feel their opinion matters, and how this looks will vary based on their age. For toddlers, simply talking to them about the move is enough whilst for older children it might involve asking them their opinion on the schools you are viewing and for teens, they might appreciate being shown the properties you are considering and being asked their opinions on them. Ultimately the big decisions are down to you and they know that, but their input might just be helpful for all involved!

Join local Facebook groups

This might seem an odd one, but we find it’s one of the best ways to really learn about the place you’re moving to and to get a vibe of the parenting ethos in the area. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to other parents in your new hometown and to learn about local family hotspots so that when you arrive you might have the option of a park date if you fancy it. Setting these foundations and connections with like-minded parents is a brilliant way to learn about family-friendly activities in the area and you might just find a friend for you and your little one.

Try not to overthink it

Ultimately, if you’ve maintained a strong and respectful relationship with your children they will trust your decisions. Keeping all of the above in mind, children are hugely adaptable and usually take these things much more in their stride than we do! As long as we lead with love in our decisions with our kids and remain respectful of their worries, they will usually do the same for you. Trust your own instincts for your family and know that as long as they have you, we’ve found they will usually adjust very quickly to their new life.

5 simple ways to help prepare your child for an international move

Preparing your child for an international move can be a challenging process, but here are 5 simple ways to help prepare your child for an international move that will make the transition smoother. First, once your plans are confirmed, it’s essential to regularly check in with your child to address any concerns they may have about the upcoming move. Keep the conversations light and open, encouraging them to ask questions. Let them know they can share any worries without fear of being dismissed. While it might be tempting to reassure them by downplaying their feelings (e.g., telling them they’ll make new friends quickly), it’s important to acknowledge their current emotions. Even though a 5-year-old may eventually move past a lost friendship, at that moment, it’s significant to them. By validating their feelings, you create a safe space for them to express their emotions, even if it stirs up feelings of guilt for you as a parent. For more ideas on starting these conversations, visit Whereshome's Instagram, where our founder Nadine shares her own experiences, including how she supports her three boys as they prepare for their relocation to the UK.