What do the children think?
 

I have an eight year old son who wants to ask you a few questions.

What do the children think of Canada? :thumbup:
What do they think of school? ;)
Do they get to do lots of sports? :thumbsup:

Re: What do the children think?
 

My 11yr old Boy loves it here. His new School have been great and he was welcomed in fine. Loads of extra curricular activites to do both before & after School. At the moment he is going through an Ice Skating fad but in the summer it was mountain biking. He's cost me a small fortune.

My 4yr old girl has a mid atlantic twang at the moment, not quite a Canadian accent but almost. She doesn't know any different to be honest, she thought we were in Canada when we parked at Gatwick airport :lol:

Re: What do the children think?
 

"Message back from J.D." Thank you for you email I hope you do well in Canada, I am looking forward to ice skating. Does you son perfer Canada?

Re: What do the children think?
 

I have 7 and 9 year old girls. Both have settled very well and both are enjoying plenty of new friendships. They currently go to skating, dancing, swimming and brownies (which has also cost a small fortune in the last month or so!).

School is generally more casual in both teaching styles and in clothing! No uniforms. Kids get up and walk out of class to go to the washroom. There seems to currently be way less homework, verging on none at all (which I am struggling with - not the homework you understand, just the lack of it).

The early mornings are killing us all off as they start school at 8.10 but we'll survive!

My children now have way more physical freedom than we could have offered in the UK. This may predominantly be due to the place we now live and the layout of the area, versus a pretty rural existence in the south of England where there was no-one else to play with anyway, even if we had let them out of our garden!

Canadian children generally appear polite but not oozing with 'pleases' and 'thank yous' - they are happy to talk to adults more and are generally encouraged to do so without any hang ups. They can appear a little more forward - I think that's what I mean - they speak up ... but they also speak over you and other people and interrupt without being reminded to just hold on a moment !! English manners obsessiveness coming to the fore here :o
Something must be going right though, because teenagers generally can string a sentence together when in the presence of an adult and are generally a nice bunch - quite a revelation.

You could do worse :)

Re: What do the children think?
 

Wow all sounds great, thanks for your reply.

Know what you mean about english manners always telling J.D. to wait until there is gap in conversation!!

Re: What do the children think?
 

Hi,
I agree with all that has been said. I have a 5 year old boy and an 8 year old girl..they LOVE their new school. They have made lots of friends and have taken to it like ducks to water (I was very worried about how well they would settle). We have only been here since beginning of August. In my sons words...he 'prefers this Canada school because its got its own library!'
I'm sure you will find loads to do, we too have enrolled in soccer,gymnastics and ice skating..The kids can play outside on their bikes/scooters in safety.
The cost of psp/ds/playstation games is way cheaper than in the Uk too.! Like Ann says school is much more relaxed here, but I have no concern over the teaching standards and most importantly the teachers seem so enthusiastic... and everyone loves the British accent. Hope this helps

Re: What do the children think?
 

Knock knock.

Whos there?

Interupting cow!

Interupting cow w...

Moooooooooooo.

Re: What do the children think?
 

Big help one of the big worries how he will settle. Although he can talk to anyone and everyone that will listen to him so shouldn't really worry about him making new friends really, think he is a good age to make new friends to. Glad you kids have settle so quickly.

Re: What do the children think?
 

Will have to remember that one next times he does it!!!

Re: What do the children think?
 

I think he does. He misses decent TV and Indian takeaways but aside from that he is very much at home in Canada and very happy.
His old friends in the UK that he thought he couldn't live without, they are just a memory now, although he does say hi now and again on MSN.

Re: What do the children think?
 

8.10am start is super early...........ours begin at 8.30am and I thought that was a bit on the early side.

I agree with all thats been said.
More relaxed schooling, disciplined but respectful.
Kids are generally better behaved here.......(on the whole, always exceptions)
My son just loves school here, no uniform !! Yeah !!!!

They are slower accademically in the early yrs I believe. I keep in contact with friends in the UK, and what her kids are doing is ahead of my son, (both the same age) BUT, they focus on the all round individual, not just focusing on results.

Re: What do the children think?
 

Evening all,

Parris and JD - hello.

Our son is eight years old and could talk the hind legs off a donkey. His teacher loves the fact the he is so polite (what:eek: has she got the right child?). He has made friends so easily. We are in Canmore (a small town) and our children go to school in Banff (another small town). My two (have a 12 year old daughter also) get the school bus at 7:30am and start school at 8:15) they return at 4:20pm. Our son loves the bus and they tell me every day what animals they see. So far mostly deer, elk, coyotes and a moose. Both schools were very very welcoming of them both. Our son loves telling the class of all the things that they don't have here - like the latest on Doctor Who.

Also we live on a small street. Not loads of kids but all very friendly and polite. Our neighbour has eight year old twins and they always call at our house when they are going out to play street hockey. We are blessed with lovely neighbours (kids and adults).

Both our children fitted in immediately and love it here. They both do gym every day. Banff Elementary School (where our son is) have struck a deal with one of the local ski resorts so thatall children get a free ski pass. Our children are out on their bikes (safe street) most weekends or playing street hockey. Our daughter has taken up speed skating and loves it.

However, not sure if this is everywhere. Our son wanted to try ice hockey but when we enquired, we would have to join the club, buy all the ski gear, attend a match every weekend and volunteer for x number of hours at the club. He only wanted to try it not fork out over a $1000 for it. We will wait until the local pond freezes over and all the kids then go and play ice hockey for free.:)

Good luck with your moved to Canada.

Alro

Re: What do the children think?
 

HI sorry to hijack the thread,but my daughter in almost 15 and she is very worried about fitting in .Has any one had experiences with this age of girls fitting into School, social etc.She watches too many US teen programs/films where the other girls are really bitchy to the newbie.
Thanks Hels

Re: What do the children think?
 

My 9 year old was worried about this, let alone your 15 year old. The protrayal is awful, isn't it? The cool cheerleaders being mean to the new kid, etc !!!! Dreadful films !!! All I would say is think back to Grange Hill (if you are nearly as old as me). Was that a true portrayal of a comprehensive? Yes and No !! We could never be as rude or as cheeky as the kids in that programme, but elements of it rung true.

There will always be the mean kid - there's a couple in every grade I reckon, but that means there are probably at least 28 to 60 really normal, nice kids !!

Don't worry - they'll love her - new kids, new accent = new friends. Good luck to her :thumbsup:

Re: What do the children think?
 

I think this is correct! No one will watch a movie about the nice kids after all.

Re: What do the children think?
 

Thanks you two ,
Ive been trying to tell her this and she has already seen first hand how pleasant Canadian kids were when we visited our friends in Calgary in 2005.It's just now that it is not Calgary we are heading for she is panicking.:huh:
She asked me to post this thread so now I can show her your replies.
Cheers Hels

Re: What do the children think?
 

Hello my two children are aged 12 and 9 and they love it here, they have settled into school really well and they even say they both feel safer here, we lived in the uk and moved here in april 2007.

Now as far as i am concerned if the children are happy, then it makes mum and dad even happier, don't you think, they have so many friends now and they are all so kind and nice. They miss everyone back in england, but they do say to me now and again, promise us we won't move back as we love it here. so i hope this answers your question. where abouts are you thinking of moving to?

Re: What do the children think?
 

Hi There

I have a 12 year old daughter and most of the oldies on her know what a bad time she had in the UK at High School - that bad that she chose to come out earlier than me to join Dad. We have never lookedback with her - loves school, more confidence and just enjoys life for what it is.



Again this is exactly how I feel and what the kids ask us too :thumbsup:

Gaynor
x

Re: What do the children think?
 

Yes i totally agree with you on the bullying, it is bad in the uk, my daughter was bullied to, she did not have a lot of friends at school back in the uk, but over here, she has loads, and her first day in school here sticks in my head, because when we picked her up, her first words were "i have got so many friends and it's only my first day" so that done it for me, i was so happy and she is so happy and does not get any bellyaches anymore, or she does not cry anymore in the mornings not wanting to go to school. so glad your daughter is enjoying her life now.

Re: What do the children think?
 

"Reply from J.D."

Thank you for all your Replies from everyone.:eek:

I am looking forward to living in Canada.:thumbsup:

I hope you enjoy your stay in Canda.:D:

I will tallk to you soon.:rofl:

for J.D.:rolleyes:

Re: What do the children think?
 

Glad you are still moving here and looking forward to it, where abouts are you moving too? if you don't mind me asking?

Remember one thing - we have had our lives (mind you i am not old ha, ha) no honestly i think of it like this "we have had our lives growing up, now it is our children's turn, they will have a better future here and more prospects" and will be able to afford a mortgage - not like back in the uk.

SO GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MOVE

Re: What do the children think?
 

Quiet agree about the mortgage two people on good wages and still struggle to pay it!!

We are looking to move to maybe the Cochrane/Okotoks area, going over at Xmas to have a look at the areas.

Tanya (Parris OH)

Re: What do the children think?
 

Thanks to the parents of older kids who have replied!

We have a 13 year old daughter (nearly 14) who when we first applied was 'cool' about it and was looking for a house for us etc.. Now if we mention Canada its all 'so unfair' that we are going. This lasts for a while then back to house hunting again!

We think that she may be worried about making friends, new school and area where she is not sure about where things are. Not easy to get her to open up but we try!

Any tips from parents of teenagers that have moved that may help or is this just normal?

Re: What do the children think?
 

Just wanted to let you know that you're not on your own. Our youngest son (will be 14 in January) couldn't wait for us to move when we first talked about going to Canada. Now, however, he is far more reluctant. He's told both his Dad and myself its because his elder brother had the opportunity to complete his secondary school education and that if he was allowed to do the same he'd be happy!

I know Mini Beast will be fine once we move and feel sure his reluctance is down to venturing into the unknown. He also spends time looking at the mls site choosing us a home - usually one with a pool!

Lynne

Re: What do the children think?
 

Thanks for that!:)
It is still hard as it does make you question why you started the whole process in the first place!! There is enough to think about and do without questioning why.

Re: What do the children think?
 

The little loves still do that occasionally when you get here too. My 9 year old has had a few 'moments' this last week or so. And I have got really down about it. :( I'm sure it's a passing phase. Please. :rofl:

Re: What do the children think?
 

Hi Ann M

I fully understand what you are saying here. When we left the UK (August 1st 2007), our 12 year old's form teacher told us to watch for the six week "downer" as she often saw it in foreign children at her school. Sure enough, six weeks in our daughter felt down. It is really hard to know what to say toyour kids sometimes but they all get through it. Our daughter has made some wonderful friends at her school. They are a great bunch of kids who look out for each other. We had a recent upset (see cat taken by coyote thread) and we had lots of tears by both our kids but they are getting through it the best way they can.

I hope that you don't feel too down about your daughter as children can't possibly understand that for a lot of people the main reason that they move here is to give their children a better life and future. They will understand later in life when they fondly look back on all they wonderful experiences they have had in Canada.

By the way, thanks for your good wishes when I posted a question on what to wear for my first interview. I applied for four jobs here and got offered three of them. I took the first one and am loving it. Thanks you again for your wishes of good luck. I was having a moment of my own that day:D

Alro

Re: What do the children think?
 

Hi, just after a little bit of reassurance:(, wanting to move over to Nova Scotia in July of next year, have 2 boys one at the age of 12 and one who will be 11, the 11year old is well into ice hockey and has played for 4 years, but the older one hasnt really got many friends and has no sport, is their plenty for him to do, so he wont feel so alone without his few friends from his current school and enviroment.
Vicky

Re: What do the children think?
 

My youngest daughter 17 did have trouble fitting in because of the clique's but this year she has joined some clubs and is very happy with her new friends and life in general. Although both daughters (I have a 20 year old) miss Next (I dont it has saved my wallet:rofl:).

Re: What do the children think?
 

I am also going to NS next year and have sons age 12 and 6 (will be 13 and 7 then) so they wont be the only new kids in town.

Where abouts are you planning to live?

Re: What do the children think?
 

Thanks for that!

Re: What do the children think?
 

[QUOTE=Beastie;5485240

I know Mini Beast will be fine once we move and feel sure his reluctance is down to venturing into the unknown. He also spends time looking at the mls site choosing us a home - usually one with a pool!

Lynne[/QUOTE]

Thanks funny but the only houses she looks at have swimming pools as well. Kids eh:D

Re: What do the children think?
 

The only ones our horse mad daughter looked at had to have at least 2 acres of land .... Now we have an acre and I think she secretly wishes we lived in the town where she can walk to everything. Having to drive for 20 minutes into Fredericton was a big shock to her. Good job we didnt go for 2 acres as we would have probably had a 60 minute drive.

We had a Canadian perspective that raised her eyebrows (carefully shaped ones of course she is 17), when I asked her friend who had moved from NS to NB what she liked about Fredericton. She said lots of people, things to do, shops and how close everything was, she meant they didnt need to drive for 45 mins to get to the shops. She moved from a rural town of 2,000 whereas Gemma moved from Woking with a population of 75,000......

Re: What do the children think?
 

Bless you - thanks for that. Daughter has been OK again mostly this week, but I am going to see her teacher on Friday too (part of the problem appears to be boredom at school and lack of stimulation). But she has a great bunch of friends - so she'll get through this phase fine, I am sure.

And bravo on the job offers - what a clever ol' stick you are :p Well done you - dead chuffed, I am sure....

Re: What do the children think?
 

Evening Ann M

Good to hear that your daughter is doing better. Has she taken up any hobbies or sports outside of school? We found this to be a great distraction for both of our two. Remember you're not far from the mountains so you could always tempt her with skiing:sneaky:

As for job offers, hardly clever as they are desperate for good people in both Banff and Canmore. The problem here is that there is a huge transient population. Lots of youngsters here for the winter season and then they are off to somewhere else. i guess that I just got lucky.

Anyway, roll on the skiing season. I think that someone forgot to order the snow:eek:

Alro