Maize P. Says:
Do you have any advice for those of us looking to move overseas with young kids?
IL Contributor Jason Holland Says:
I moved abroad with my wife (who was pregnant at the time), four-year-old son, and two dogs to Costa Rica in 2012. We were looking to have an adventure—along with affordable and good quality healthcare.
Since then, we’ve traveled all over Latin America—places we never dreamed of when we had a typical suburban existence in our home state of Florida. We now live in Mexico and continue to enjoy our expat experience.
Here’s my best advice for relocation with your kids.
Easing the Transition
Research, research, research. I can’t stress enough how important it is to become informed about all the things you must do to prepare effectively for a move abroad…as well as the place you plan to move to.
Involve your children in the planning process. Let them have a say in what they bring and what they leave behind. Show them picture and videos of where you plan to live. Explain the benefits they’ll enjoy in your new home. Talk to them about the school they’ll attend.
Supporting Your Family
In some cases, families have been saving up for years before they make a move abroad, and can afford to effectively “retire early.” But more often, folks not yet of retirement age still need to earn an income. The good news is that you probably won’t have to make as much money as you did back home because you’ll have fewer expenses and the cost of living is lower.
You’ll have several options. (One thing to note is that you almost definitely WILL NOT be able to just apply for a job in the new country because of work visa requirements.)
Many expat families I meet work online in some capacity. Some have an internet business selling products, either physical items or digital downloads. Some are freelance web designers, graphic designers, or writers. Some are consultants, working for clients in the U.S. or around the world, in professions like engineering or accounting. A very popular online career right now is teaching English via video conferencing software (no teaching experience needed).
Social Life and Friends
One of the biggest worries from any move to a new place is the fear that you won’t be able to make friends. This is especially stressful for kids who perhaps have had the same buddies their whole lives.
From my experience, it’s very easy to make friends as an expat and that includes the kids.
Expat communities tend to be welcoming and friendly. They were new once…they know how it is. Plus, you’re all going through the same experience and are probably like-minded. You ended up out of your home country and in the same place after all. You have a lot in common.
The result is fast friendships with people from all backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. And the kids get along really well also. You won’t find bullying. You don’t have to be so concerned with what kids are doing online. It’s more of an old-fashioned childhood in many ways. Plus, there are plenty of ways to stay active as a kid, from sports to clubs to play dates and beyond.
School and Education
One of the biggest concerns for parents is what to do about school. In many countries, you’ll have several options:
- Local public schools. This really depends on the country. In some places, they are good quality. In others, it’s pretty bare bones. It is probably the best way to pick up the local language as there are no accommodations made for foreign students.
- Private schools. Usually designed for locals with means and expats, private schools often offer U.S. level education, sometimes even a curriculum accredited by a U.S. state. The downside is that the language is often English and the costs can be high.
- Online schools. Many states and private companies offer online schooling for K-12. You simply set up an account for your child and away they go, with live online instruction by teachers or more of a go-at-your-own-pace system—it depends on the program.
- Homeschooling. A very popular option for expat families is homeschooling. That does mean one parent’s job will be to be a teacher. And if you’ve never done it before, it can be intimidating. But structuring your child’s education the way you see fit and having the flexibility to let them pursue their own interests does offer a lot of benefits. Plus, when school is at home and on your schedule, that leaves plenty of time for fun and travel.
Moving abroad with your children can be very rewarding…the experience of a lifetime. It takes some preparation to make sure you have things set up in your new location and that the whole family is mentally ready for life in a new country and culture.
You can get more advice on moving overseas with your kids in the dedicated resource page I created for the International Living website.
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