Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Hi all, we are thinking of heading over to Brisbane in March, we have had our PR visas for four years now and due to family pressure, have not made the move yet. We have two boys 8 & 5 and my biggest concern is how they will cope with the move, and going to a new school, both are doing really well at school and really enjoy it, but I know it's now or never. Would like to know how other kids of similar age have adapted?

Thanks
Alan

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

We have running water in Brisbane which will be a new thing for them coming from Armagh. Other than that they'll adapt a lot better than you will. Within 3 months they will have Aussie accents and you won't understand half of what they say :)

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

My two boys were 4 (very nearly 5!) and 2 when we arrived last year and they have settled so easily. My eldest loves his new school (admittedly he'd only been at school in England for a few weeks anyway) and the youngest has made so many new friends at preschool.

I'm not convinced that their accents have changed yet, although the odd words are coming out differently - I was expecting them to change very quickly. Having said that the English accent isn't as different as the Irish or Scottish accents. I know that I lost my Scottish accent really quickly in England.

We decided the same as you have that it was now or never as far as kids ages go, the older they are the harder it would be to drag them away from what they're used to. Having said that, people don't really worry so much about moving within the UK and you're just as likely to be taking them away from their friends then.

Good luck with whatever you decide - I'd say go for it!

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Exactly the same age ours were when we moved.

Its been pretty painless - but I am married to an Aussie and we had some family and friend connections we could pick up - not a lot but enough to make a start.

That said, the kids knew no-one at school or preschool and had to make their own way there. They're adaptable kids though, having made one big move internally in the UK 3 years before we came out. Our closest frinds are now probably parents of friends they've made at school.

On the whole it worked well for us with kids at that age. The connections we had meant little to them and they built new relationships for themselves. Generally speaking, they'll find it easier than you....

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Hi Alan

Having been here 8 months now with 2 boys 12 and 9, the eldest has settled far easier than the younger one and the elder one didn't want to come. It completely depends on the child and obviously how accomodating the children are at the school you chose for your kids. As for the accents a few aussie words are creeping in i.e. heaps, chips, hot chips, poppers etc etc but the accents themselves haven't changed. I believe the younger the kids the quicker the accent changes, not sure how true that is I can only speak for my own family.

Good luck with the move, totally understand the now or never, hubby waited for 4 years and 11 months and 3 weeks "NO JOKE":eek:

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

My kids were 7 and 3 when we moved over and are now 13 and 8. We went back to the UK for the first time this year and they couldn't wait to get back to Australia. Don't make moving a big issue and they will be fine. The kids who usually struggle are ones that see their parents making a huge fuss about stuff. They aren't daft and will usually pick up on feelings and behaviours from their parents. It will all be good in the end.

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Ours were 6 and 9 (now 16 and 13) and settled really quickly with no dramams whatsoever.

We went back to the UK a few years ago and they couldnt wait to get back. The eldest sounds Aussie with her friends, pommy with us. The youngest still sounds pretty english, all his friends are aussies/ aussie parent so I find this strange.

My youngest is 4 and was born here, he sounds like an okker:lol:

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Both my kids were born here, so I can't comment on them adapting;), but our primary school has lots of kids joining all through the year, from many different countries, it's a mini UN. They all seem to settle in well and quickly. The only ones who struggle a bit at first are those who speak no English, otherwise it's a lot easier for the kids than the parents, but even they can adapt:thumbsup:.

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

They'll only struggle if their parents struggle or give off vibes that they're worrying too much about the children struggling imo anyway. Easier said than done obviously but valid none the less.:)

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Been in manly brisbane 2 months now. Have a 3.5 and 5.5 yo. Best advice would be to get them into a similiar routine asap ie school - and get socialising. They have both settled well with little mention of uk. Good luck and brisbane is great for kids :-)

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Generally they settle well but I can imagine if they have been kids who have been effectively raised by a grandparent or other relative while parents are at work then they will struggle with that attachment issue rather more. They will also pick up on parental vibes as others have said.

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Generally speaking younger kids do settle well. In my experience the things that unsettle them most is parting with close friends and relatives, having to give up a prized possession (which may be unlikely to happen) or leaving a much loved pet behind.

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

I did it the other way aged about 10 .. went from one parent in Oz to the other in the UK.

Was easy.

Unless you've wrapped them in cotton wool all their life and sheltered them from every little thing, they'll just "get on with it".

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Yes water from the taps is a bit of a novelty this week, bit of a role reversal, we have none and you have too much. Thanks for the replies.
Alan

Re: Is it hard for young kids to adapt?
 

Thanks everyone for the response, it is very reassuring to know that most make the transition without any problems, our boys have have been brought up by ourselves no help from family, and both seem to be confident, with outgoing personalities. Hope this will help them to make new friends and settle when we make the move. They have started to take a keen interest in karate, so maybe we could enroll them in a class when we arrive. My wife has a cousin in Joyner north Brisbane so will be staying there for the first few weeks, What do you think of this area for young kids and schools?

Thanks
Alan