| One concern that many people have is how to make | | | | By contrast another family waited until their children |
| the move to Canada with younger children. Sue and I | | | | had finished their school year in the UK before coming. |
| came with our kids when they were older - mostly | | | | This meant that they arrived at the start of the |
| teenagers. So for this article I asked for contributions | | | | summer. The result was that their children didn't get to |
| from some of the people we helped move over. I'm | | | | meet many other children until school started in |
| pleased to be able to bring you their advice - in their | | | | September. On reflection they felt it would have been |
| own words wherever possible. | | | | better to arrive before the school holidays so their kids |
| INVOLVING THE KIDS IN DECISIONS | | | | could meet a few other children. |
| Young kids need to be involved in decisions just as | | | | ACTIVITIES |
| much as older ones. Their worries may not be easy to | | | | Canada isn't short of activities for children. Getting your |
| express for them but they do need a chance to take | | | | kids involved in these is another way for them to fit in. |
| part in this in whatever way they can. | | | | The summer, especially if you arrived in the school |
| "We also made big efforts to include them in the | | | | holidays, is the time to take advantage of summer |
| decision process in some way and talked to them | | | | camps and other organized activities. |
| about why we wanted to come here and in what | | | | "We have tried to get them involved with local |
| ways it could improve all our lives. They have to see | | | | activities ASAP and arranged LOADS of "playdates" |
| some benefit in it too." | | | | so they could feel settled with their peer group as |
| RESEARCH TRIPS | | | | quickly as possible. It can be a bit grueling but also |
| "For our boys bringing them on the research trip really | | | | helped us make friends too." |
| helped so they could see where they were coming. It | | | | Be careful not to over commit your time. You will be |
| also helped that we had chosen the area we planned | | | | running your children around in true "soccer mom" style. |
| to settle so they could even visit the school they were | | | | Let them try out different activities but watch out that |
| going to attend." | | | | you don't spend too much. One parent warned about |
| Even if you don't know exactly where you are going | | | | the cost of (ice) hockey gear for their initially |
| to settle, it is a good idea to visit a few schools in likely | | | | enthusiastic son! |
| areas. Your kids will see something of their new life | | | | TOYS AND STUFF FROM HOME |
| and you will be able to talk about it with them. Schools | | | | Getting out and meeting new people all the time can |
| are friendly places and well used to helping new kids | | | | be overwhelming for some kids - and adults. Having |
| settle in. | | | | familiar things from home, once your shipment arrives, |
| KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH HOME | | | | can be reassuring. |
| "Keeping in touch with those back home is important | | | | "We tried to let them bring as much of their own stuff |
| too and for us the webcam is really useful. Younger | | | | as possible and toys they no longer needed we sold |
| kids cannot "chat" on the phone as we do but they will | | | | before we left and allowed the boys to spend the |
| have a normal chat with grandparents, cousins etc on | | | | money once they were here on new things ( bit of an |
| the webcam. I think it is better getting everybody set | | | | incentive !). We brought all their DVD collection (which |
| up on the system before you leave, trying to do it | | | | was quite large) and bought a multi region player here |
| once you are here is a headache as we have found | | | | so they can watch all their DVD's and one's that |
| out. We also encourage people to send stuff through | | | | people send over from the UK. We wished we had |
| the mail, photos, dvds as they love getting mail from | | | | bought a uk tv and their gameplayer too (they can be |
| the UK as it is always something nice!" | | | | used with a step up transformer) as it is expensive to |
| TIMING | | | | replace video games if you have a lot." |
| If you have a choice, when should you time your | | | | FINAL THOUGHTS |
| move? This is an interesting point. One family came in | | | | Writing this newsletter brought back to me the whole |
| the middle of the school year, actually in the middle of | | | | experience of moving. Our teenagers all settled in well |
| the term. Their kids started school within a week of | | | | and though we all face challenges in doing this, the |
| arriving. The school was very welcoming and their girls | | | | younger you are the easier it is. |
| settled in very quickly. By the end of the first week | | | | If you are interested in moving to British Columbia, with |
| they'd got invites to playdates and sleepovers. | | | | or without kids, then we'd be very pleased to help you. |