It is hard to move to a different continent even when you have decided to do it. But it is stressful when you are a child, and your parents decide to uproot you like that. From a parent’s perspective, moving to Germany with kids is a delicate matter one must adequately prepare for. Here is some advice about how to do it in the best possible manner.
Break the news gently
It is improbable your kids will be happy about the move you are about to make. Like you, they have their friends and happy places right where they are now. But you can’t hide the information about moving to Germany for too long. Therefore, treat this as bad news you must communicate to your child, so do it as soon as possible and do it gently. Keeping your kid in the dark regarding this big event will worsen things.
When moving to Germany with kids, let them express their emotions
Chances are pretty high your child will not take the information about the move well. There may be a lot of anger, tears, and maybe even a fair amount of resistance. Whatever emotion your child expresses, have patience and be understanding. In this challenging moment, the parents must offer support and respect their children’s feelings. They probably get it. There is no way to avoid what is about to happen, so emotional venting is part of their coping mechanism. Besides, it is far better for them to let their feelings out than to keep them bottled up.
Start learning German six months earlier
Communicating in the new country you call home can make a big difference. Learning a new language is beneficial for many reasons, even when you are not moving to the country where it is spoken. Because of that, there is every reason for you to start learning German as soon as you find it convenient. For example, you can learn a lot in six months, so six months before the move would be an excellent time to start. This activity can be something your family can do together, as a team you naturally are. That can help you grow fond of this new country you are moving to and help you adjust to the new culture faster.
Explore the new city online together
Part of what makes people dread an idea of something is the fact they don’t know anything about it. When relocating to Germany, your family may struggle with the fear of the unknown. One way to resolve this issue is to explore the city you are moving to online. Look for gyms you and your partner can go to. Search for the venues where you can host a birthday party for your child. Research the beauty salons, bars, restaurants, and everything that interests you in the city where you live. That way, you will start associating this new city and country with positive thoughts because you will be eager to visit these cool new places you found. Also, this activity will arouse natural curiosity, suppressing the coming events’ anger.
Look for a new home in Germany
The change in lifestyle and environment is nerve-wracking enough. You don’t have to add hopping from one potential home to another when you get there. Look for your new home in Germany before you take your entire family across the planet. And when you find the one that suits you all, ensure you include your kids in making home improvements. Remember, they will be spending their lives there too. They deserve to be heard, at least. You’ll be surprised by how many genius ideas they may offer when you give them a chance.
Make the necessary arrangements for the relocation
The moving day will be a real emotional rollercoaster. There’s not much you can do to ward off the sadness or anxiety that will seize your heart when you cast that final look at your old family home. But you can ensure that moving to Germany from the US goes as smoothly as possible. If you don’t want it to cause additional bother to your family, hire international movers to help you. When you team up with moving pros instead of making all the arrangements yourself, you ensure that all your belongings travel safely to your destination without getting lost or damaged. That’s the least you can do for your family members to allow them to go through the adjustment phase with one worry less.
Take care of all your affairs at home
Moving to Germany with kids marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. A fresh new start is always exciting and offers many possibilities to reinvent yourself and achieve all your goals. Start this new stage without any of the old issues pulling you back. To be possible, take care of all your affairs at home. If you sell your home, do it properly and finalize all the documents before the move. Try to solve all your old problems before you leave so you can start with a clean slate. It is incredible how many great people achieved success after starting from scratch relatively late in life. Maybe you will be one of them too. But to be able to focus on the future, you must cut all the ropes that are holding you back.
Moving abroad is definitely an adjustment, but can be very rewarding. Here are more tips on how to survive your first year living abroad:
How To Survive Your First Year Living Abroad was provided by Expat CPA, providing excellent services such as expat tax planning
Final thoughts
Although it may seem scary, moving to Germany with kids can be the best thing that happened to you. Take these pieces of advice so you and your family can take this big new step with smiles on your faces. And congratulations! A great and exciting life awaits you!
