If you’ve always had a love of traveling and experiencing new cultures, from Australia to Malaysia, you may also have dreamed about moving to live in a different country. However, sometimes life gets in the way of these dreams. Whether you were weighed down in work or didn’t want to uproot your children - there are likely plenty of reasons why you haven’t taken the plunge yet. However, don’t despair! Moving to a new country has never been easier, and there are plenty of ways to help ease your children into the transition!
With that in mind, here are some ways where you can make moving abroad a fun adventure for your children!
1: Plan ahead.
Once you have made the decision to move, start planning. Find out everything there is to know about the process of moving, the area where you want to move to, and how much it is going to cost you. Keep notes, and establish a plan. Set yourself a budget and a timescale - for example, you may plan to move within the new year and write a list of things you need to do before that time.
For example, you need to ensure that you apply for the appropriate VISA. In the UK alone, there are numerous different types of visas, so you need to ensure you take the time to find the perfect visa for yourself and your family. Once you have been living in the UK for five years, you can send in a UK indefinite leave to remain application, which helps you stay on track to earning British citizenship.
Being organized means you are less likely to feel overwhelmed and stressed, which your child could pick up on easily.
Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash
2: Build their excitement
Your children will pick up on the emotions you display within your home, therefore you must help them look forward to the future. Whether they are worried about the friends and family they are leaving behind, or what their new school will be like - always focus on the positives when you are discussing the big move with them. A lot of their anxieties will be based upon the fact that they are venturing into the unknown, so try and make them feel as comfortable as possible. Show them pictures and videos of their new home, and find out what activities they can get involved in within your new area. Spend some time together writing a bucket list of activities you want to do as soon as you arrive - this gives them something to look forward to.
3: Keep a scrapbook
A scrapbook is a great way to help build lasting memories of your old home and can be a great way for your child to process any feelings of sadness they might have at the thought of leaving. Take photographs of your favorite places, have friends sign the pages, stick in old receipts or keepsakes. This means, whenever they are feeling homesick, they have something to look back on. You can also begin a scrapbook for your new home, too!
