transatlantic_chap

How old were your kids when you made the move, and how do you think they have been affected, either positively or negatively?

kins

Mine were 6, 4 and 2. The 6 year old struggled a bit with language and cultural issues for the first year. The other two were pretty much unaffected.

They're now 14, 12 and 10. They're at much better schools than they probably would have been at in the UK. They get to ski, go to the beach, and do a lot of stuff they wouldn't in the UK, at least not where we lived. Where we live there is less pressure for children to grow up fast, although I think that's not necessarily a country thing but more a local thing.

The main downside is that they are 3,000 miles away from most of their family.

Nutmegger

I don't think much has changed since you last asked the question:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/trail...handle-816828/

transatlantic_chap

Huh. Weird. So no-one new has joined the forum in the last year and a half?

kodokan

Are you researching for an article? It seems a very broad-based enquiry. Both times.

If not, you'll likely get more useful, targeted answers if you explain how old your kid(s) are, and what particular concerns you worrying about - the impact on teenagers versus toddlers will be profoundly different.

kimilseung

Mine was six months when I moved, I think she has benefited from having a father around.

MarylandNed

My 3 kids were 4, 3, and 10 months. I don't think much actually changed for them as they were very young and impressionable. We have a 4th child who was born in the US.

I often wonder how it would be different if they had been brought up in the UK (where we're originally from and where the 3rd child was born) or in Canada (where we used to live and where the first 2 were born). I think the sheer size of the US means that most of the news they hear is US-centric. Most American kids I know have a poor knowledge of the rest of the world in terms of history, geography, climate, current affairs, etc. I think in this regard, it would have been better for my kids to grow up in Canada or the UK. Our oldest is now at university in Canada from where she has definitely obtained a different perspective on the US as well as Canada and the rest of the world. I think that has been a very healthy experience for her.

All are now in their teens or early 20s. We have encouraged them to travel. Apart from family holidays to Europe, Mexico etc, the oldest 2 (both girls) have also travelled on their own. Both have been around Europe on the train together. One has also volunteered in Peru. The other has toured New Zealand.

My son (18) concerns me as he doesn't appear to have much desire to travel and is probably the most American (insular) of the 4. His knowledge of the rest of the world centers mainly on soccer.

The youngest girl (14) appears to want to travel when she is older and also wants to go to university outside the US.

SarahG

Mine were 4 and 6. They have loved the experiences of moving over to the US. Sure they miss family that are still in the UK, but they have both independently said they do not want to return to the UK to live.

username.exe

Mine were 3 and 1.
They very quickly forgot about their house/family/lifestyle in England, as you might predict.

Internet and technology have made the move that much easier in terms of regularly connecting with family back in England.