Hi, I’m Deb, an Australian mum who moved to the United States with my husband and our three children. Uprooting our lives and starting fresh in another country has been one of the biggest and most challenging things we’ve ever done as a family.
Like many parents navigating an international move, one of my biggest concerns was how our children would adjust—emotionally, socially, and practically—to such a massive change. I’m not a child psychologist or an expert in child development. I’m just a mum who’s walked this path (and is still walking it).
In this post, I want to share five things we did to help our children feel more settled and supported after moving overseas. These are based entirely on our experiences, in the hope that they might offer some reassurance or practical ideas for other families going through a similar journey.
1. We Involved the Kids in the Process of Moving
From the moment we started thinking about moving, we made sure our kids were part of the conversation. We talked about the moving process, where we were moving to, and what they could expect to happen over the next few months.
We sat down together as a family and showed the kids photos and YouTube videos of our new city, and asked what they were most looking forward to. Involving them in the excitement helped ease some of the anxiety.
We looked at maps and found age-appropriate books about moving overseas and American culture. There are a lot of options out there and we chose some fiction stories about children moving overseas as well as non-fiction children’s books about American culture. We wanted the kids to understand that the place we were moving to would be different to what they were used to. These helped explain some of the everyday differences—like imperial vs metric measurements, new currency, and the U.S. school system (elementary, middle, and high school vs Australia’s primary and secondary schools).
We involved the kids in packing too. Since we couldn’t bring everything, we sat down and sorted through their toys and keepsakes together. Letting them help choose what came with us gave them a sense of control during a time of big change.
2. We Helped Them Say Goodbye
This heading makes it sound worse than it is. The kids knew we weren’t saying goodbye in the sense that we wouldn’t see our loved ones again, instead this was about saying farewell to the familiarity of home. We’ve been fortunate enough to go back to Australia to visit, as well as have family come to visit us.
We made time to say proper goodbyes before we left. That meant visiting their school one last time, playing at their favorite parks, and even having goodbye ice cream at our local café.
We also created memory books filled with photos and notes from friends, hosted a small farewell party, and took lots of pictures. These moments gave our children some emotional closure and helped them start looking ahead to what was next.
This is a really difficult stage to go through for anyone, at any age. Communication is so important, as well as making sure our kids knew that we were doing this together and that they could approach us with their fears and we would be there to support them.
Even if your move overseas is rushed and chaotic it’s still important to take time out to properly acknowledge the change that your kids are going through.
3. We Talked About Why We Were Moving—and What We Hoped to Gain
We were honest with our kids about the fact that moving away from home, family, and friends was a big deal. But we also shared why we were excited about the move. For us, it was about having new experiences, exploring the world, and giving our children broader opportunities.
We asked them what they hoped for too. What did they want in their new room? What activities would they like to try? We also listened to their concerns, even when we didn’t have all the answers. Just having those open conversations made a difference.
What stood out the most for me was realizing that while my husband and I were looking at the move through a broader lens, our children were experiencing it very differently. We could see the long-term benefits—the chance to travel, grow as a family, and embrace new experiences—but the kids were focused on the immediate, tangible changes. While we were excited about the adventure ahead, they were wondering what their new bedroom would look like, where their school would be, and how they’d get there each day. So, we made a conscious effort to meet them where they were. We reassured them they’d have their own space in the new house, looked up their new school online together, and explained that while we didn’t have all the answers yet, we’d figure things out as we went.
4. We Kept Old Routines—and Made New Ones
We knew routine would be key in helping our kids feel secure, so we got them enrolled in school as soon as possible. Our younger two were in class within two weeks of arriving. It was a bit of a scramble, but it helped reduce the anxiety of the unknown. Rather than worrying for weeks, they just jumped in.
We also enrolled them in sports, something familiar that helped them make friends and feel part of the community. At home, we kept up with our usual bedtime routines and family traditions, while slowly creating new ones in our new home.
The kids have loved creating new routines and traditions in our new home. We I think some of these have filled up the space that was created by the things they no lotaken the edge off not having their family around during holidays
I won’t sugarcoat it—it’s been tough. Helping our kids adjust to life in a new country has been one of the most emotionally challenging parts of the move. We’ve felt the parent guilt. But we also know that showing up, listening, and doing our best to support them day by day matters.
5. We Encouraged Them to Stay Connected to Family and Friends Back Home
Staying in touch with loved ones back home has been a lifeline. We set up regular video calls, shared photos, and encouraged our kids to write messages or send voice notes to their grandparents and friends. It helped them feel like those relationships didn’t just vanish—they were still there, just in a different way.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to helping children adjust after an international move, but small, intentional actions—like the ones above—can really help create a sense of safety and belonging during a time of uncertainty.
This is just our story, and I hope sharing it helps someone else feel a little more confident, or a little less alone.
Have you moved overseas with your children? I’d love to hear what worked for you—please share your thoughts or tips in the comments!
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From Sydney to Somewhere 