How to Integrate your Children into UK Life as an Expat
Relocating can always offer a challenge, as it presents new prospects and new beginnings with there being so much that can change from place to place. Moving to the UK has many challenges like cost of living, housing and the culture, especially for expats who are unaware of how these differ from their home country. It’s always important to conduct thorough research before making the move to the UK.
These challenges only multiply when you’re supporting your child through a move, as they may struggle to cope with all the changes that are involved with relocating to a new country. It is essential to help make the transition smooth for them and to help them settle into your new home in the UK. Once you’re ready to make the move to the UK as a family, it’s now the perfect time to read this insightful guide.
Integrating Your Expat Child Into UK Life
Explain the Process
Having clear communication with your child to help them prepare for the process is crucial, as you don’t want them to get any misconceptions about what’s happening. You can even involve your child in the decision-making process and explain the reasons for moving, making sure they understand the benefits.
Learn About the UK
The UK is a very interesting country with plenty of culture. You can drive 20 minutes and be in a whole new place with a completely different accent and cultural norms. Wherever you’re moving to in the country, make sure to conduct thorough research about it and give your child in-depth insight into what it’s going to be like.
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Prepare for Changes
Discuss the different aspects of life in the UK, such as the school system, climate and social customs. The weather might be a huge factor if you’re moving from a country that receives a lot of sun, as the UK has very cold winter months with heavy rainfall. Allowing your child time to get used to the new climate is very important and will make them happier.
Focus on Positives
While there are bound to be some aspects of moving to the UK that aren’t exciting for children, there’s so much to look forward to. Highlight the opportunities and benefits of living in the UK, such as the educational system, healthcare and cultural attractions. There are some wonderful places to visit in the UK, so you make sure to show your children all the amazing things the country has to offer.
Connect with Other Families
There are ways that you can find other families that are in a similar situation to you, which can help your children get used to the move. Join local community groups to help your child meet other children who they have the potential to become friends with and create lasting bonds. It’s also very likely that your new neighbours will be ready to embrace you right away.
Encourage Activity Participation
Getting your children to join clubs can help them gain confidence, so they can integrate better with other kids their age and make friends. Sitting down with your child to establish what clubs they would be interested in can give you a clearer understanding of the activities they enjoy, giving them a better chance of meeting like-minded children.
Celebrate Achievements
Something that’s often overlooked is acknowledging and praising your child’s efforts to adapt and learn new things, especially with them being in a completely new environment. One of the main reasons why children don’t integrate effectively in a new country is lack of support from parents, so it’s crucial that you celebrate all of their achievements along the way to help them enjoy the experience.
Maintain Cultural Connections
Continue to nurture your child’s cultural heritage and traditions, while also encouraging them to embrace the new culture. This will help them not forget where they came from, especially if they are moving to the UK at a very young age. Having a good balance between cultural heritage and new culture will give them the best chance of integrating authentically in the UK when they move into their new rental home.
Language Learning
If your family aren’t originally from the UK and your English skills aren’t of a high standard, it could be beneficial to improve you and your child’s spoken English to help them with settling into the country. They will then be able to converse better with other children their age and forge better relationships with them.
Education Enrollment
Enroll your child in a suitable school or college and familiarise yourself with the school’s policies and procedures. There’s many types of schools in the UK; public, private, single-gender and subject specific. Finding the best one for your child will be very important for their early years of learning and development.
Conclusion
Making the move to the UK smooth for your children is the most valuable investment you can make in their future. Your proactive support will lay the foundation for a positive and fulfilling experience as they build their lives in their new environment. We hope that following this guide will help you to integrate your child successfully into UK life.
Author’s Bio:
After completing a University degree in Journalism, Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time working with children, including her two young sons at home. She also has a background in immigration lawyers in London, helping families with their moves to the UK. Darcy is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others.