Moving abroad with a family can be a different challenge from moving abroad alone or as a childless couple. School, extracurricular activities, spaces to play, safety, allowances and child-friendly policies are all issues that these parents have to take into consideration. Some countries, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, have a reputation for being child-friendly expat destinations.
What are the things to consider before moving abroad with children?
If your children are under 18, education will, of course, be a priority. Plan your move well so that your children join their new school at the beginning of the academic year or the beginning of a semester. Joining mid-semester might make it more difficult for them to adapt to the curriculum and school culture. Countries in the northern hemisphere tend to start school in September/October, while those in the southern hemisphere and equatorial region often start in January. If you are an American expat moving to Australia, for instance, you must take into consideration that the school year starts in late January there.
It's important to be gentle when breaking the big news to your children, as important as it is to equip them with language and culture skills months prior to the big move. Homesickness and culture shock can affect even the most well-traveled adults, so these can impact children who are still in their developmental years even more.
Introduce your kids to the new country's language through fun methods like games and TV shows, comfort them that they'll be able to video-call with or visit their best friends regularly, and include objects they're attached to (e.g., soft toys) in the belongings you are taking abroad, make them feel excited about and involved in your new plans. For instance, you can make them participate actively in choosing the house you will rent abroad.
In some countries, public schools or state bodies offer preparatory language and culture classes to expat children when they've just arrived. Many Canadian schools, for instance, offer free English Language Development (ELD) classes to expat children. Unfortunately, in some countries, you will have no other choice but to pay for a private school. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, the vast majority of expat kids, regardless of how wealthy their parents are, attend private schools because of serious cultural and language barriers.
Of course, a child's life isn't limited to school. Children also need activities, friends and spaces to play in order to thrive. Are you moving to a place where crime rates are low and kids can safely play alone in the streets? Will your new house have a yard or garden? Are there parks, playgrounds, and affordable sports or artistic activities for children? As an expat parent, you should also research how easy this new country's laws will make it for you to be a caregiver. For example, how easily will you be able to take paid leaves when your child is sick? Will they get free meals at school, and will you receive an allowance per child?
Which destinations are known to be child-friendly?
Some countries have a particularly good reputation for raising expat children in. Unicef's 2020 report “Worlds of Influence: Understanding What Shapes Child Well-being in Rich Countries” gives insights into these countries. Countries of Northern Europe – Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Denmark – have a great reputation for safety and child-friendly policies. In Asia, Japan and Singapore also perform well in criteria rankings for raising children. New Zealand also has a child-friendly reputation.
In Unicef's report, the Netherlands ranked first. The Dutch state offers a lot of support to parents. There are various child allowances for food, transport, and even childcare. Even parents who do not qualify as low-income can receive some allowances, notably the “kinderbijslag” allowance for general expenses. Mothers are entitled to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave while fathers are allowed 5 weeks of paid leave. The country has an excellent education system, with 78% of students of all ages expressing a high level of satisfaction in their school environment (Unicef). There are also plenty of safe spaces to play in (playgrounds, parks, sports stadiums) as well as an excellent system of bike lanes.
Sweden also has excellent child policies. It has one of the most gender-equal parental leave policies in the world. Parents of any gender can evenly split 480 days of paid parental leave between them. They can also take paid sick leave if their child under 12 is sick. Childcare is also accessible and affordable. Childcare fees are income-based, and even then, high-earning parents will not have to pay more than €145 per month for one child's nursery or kindergarten.
Japan has many pros as a place to raise expat children. Crime rates are some of the lowest in the world, making it a very safe place for kids. It's common to see children under 12 going to school alone in Japan! The country also boasts of universal healthcare and an excellent education system. It has one of the most generous parental leaves in Asia: 26 weeks for mothers, 12 weeks for fathers. On the downside, as Nikkei Asia reports, expat children often lack access to proper resources (e.g., teachers in schools) to learn Japanese and integrate culturally.
In the southern hemisphere, New Zealand has a reputation for being child-friendly. The workplace culture there favors a good work-life balance, which makes it easier to raise children. Stats NZ reports that over three-quarters of workers in New Zealand are happy with their work-life balance (flexible working hours, paid vacation, etc.). Like Japan, New Zealand has an extremely low crime rate, which makes it safe for children to play in its multiple urban green spaces as well as in the stunning nature spots, which are a short drive away from cities. The country also has great public education and healthcare systems.
