How did it go when you told your DC you were moving abroad?

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Just that really! We’ve got an opportunity to move to Australia, I’m a bit apprehensive about how 6yo DD is going to take it. Would love to hear from others who have moved abroad with young children and how you broached it.......

We had this when DD was 10 and it didn't go down well at first. Some tears, but she got the better of it. She was very apprehensive about missing her friends, and we worked hard to assure her there'd be lots of opportunities to make new friends. Obviously your younger child will likely have different concerns.

Your DD will need time to get her head round the idea. If you decide you're going to Australia, present it as a fact, this is what you're doing. Don't say you'll come back if she doesn't like it as this raises hopes that she might hang on to. Do say holidays back in the UK are possible, but might be after a couple of years. That sort of thing.

Our DD was so intent on making friends that she insisted we collect the school uniform the day after landing, and was in school the next day!!! And yes, 16 years later she has loads of friends, and has maintained long-distance friendships with her old UK friends.

Sorry, should have said, we moved to Australia.

My then 7 and 9 year olds sobbed for a night about leaving their friends and schools but then got really excited about it. We took a lot of time to show them photos, maps, videos of where we were going, made some little sticker books about it, and made it as much fun as possible. We knew we were only going for a few years though, so they always knew we would be back eventually.

They absolutely loved it and now with hindsight they are very glad we went and are grateful for the fabulous life experiences they had.

There are now lots of helpful websites about preparing kids to move, and how to help them through culture shock etc. which are well worth looking at.

Thanks echt I have a feeling my daughter will have similar worries, she’s spoken about wanting to live in Australia before (I have a sister there so Australia has been a topic of conversation fairly regularly), but obviously as a 6 year old her idea of moving to Australia involved everyone she cares about accompanying her! She is a sensitive child so I think will be very upset about leaving her school/friends/family etc.

Where did you move to Theraindropontherose ? Did it take your DC long to settle?

I like the idea of sticker books and maps, we’ve bought some Australian animal toys so hoping that might help get her excited.

We had the reverse situation as my children were born overseas and then we moved back to the UK. Dd did not want to leave China to come to a country she had never lived in. She was nearly 14 when we left and I have promised that she can go back and visit her friends there. However, due to the zero covid policy, it seems unlikely that this will happen and many of her friends have moved back to their home countries so I expect a trip to China will become a trip to Australia.
Ds was eight when we moved from Austria to China and he settled really quickly.

Think about how you tell them carefully. Make the decision about how far through the process you want to get before you tell them, and if you decide not to tell them till things are more settled be really strict about not talking about it in their presence.

My parents decided we’d move abroad for my dad’s job but didn’t want to tell me until things were settled as they didn’t know which country I’d be going to school in (I could board in the UK. However they talked about it to their friends and so 7 year old me found out her dad (and her) were moving countries by overhearing a phone call. It all worked out in the end and I stayed at school in the UK, but it still kind of rankles that they didn’t talk to me/tell me about it and I found out by mistake. That said I then spent the best part of 10 years moving all over Europe in the holidays and seeing so much I never would have otherwise. It was an amazing experience that I loved, just make sure that you give your daughter space to talk about her feelings throughout the process without her feeling guilty.