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When my children were 3 and 5½ we decided to relocate to Spain. Relocating was something we had wanted to do for years, but with the children approaching school age in the UK it was not a decision we could take lightly. Here are some of the things that helped to ease the transition for our kids. Photo at left after relocation, and photo below is before relocation. Subscribe to Type-A Mom articles

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• Communication is key. Fear of the unknown is one of the hardest things for your kids to deal with. As soon as you have definitely decided to relocate, start talking to your kids about your plans.

• The younger your kids, the easier they will find it to adapt. Mine had not yet built up a social network of school friends and activities, so did not have a lot to give up. The best time to relocate is pre-school age, but remember kids are very adaptable and more resilient than we sometimes think. It will always be harder for older kids with friends, possibly boy/girlfriend and large social network to relocate.

• If you are emigrating to a country where you need a second language, start to learn well before you go. It must be an integral part of your plans, as you owe it to your kids to be able to communicate with teachers, doctors , dentists and to be able to cope with the things that everyday life with kids will inevitably throw at you. Start night school, hire a private tutor,buy “teach yourself” tapes. Make sure that the kids learn too, they are never to young to start with a second language. Pre-school teaching aids such as flash cards, videos and simple picture books will give them the basics.

• Teach your kids a few simple phrases. “My name is...”, “ Hello, how are you..”, “Can I play?”, for example, will find it much easier to join in.

• If you need to rent a property initially, try to make it as much like “home” as possible. If you can rent unfurnished and have your own stuff around you, then great. If that is not possible, then at least bring a box or two of favourite items such as pictures, teddies and toys. A sense of familiarity with the surroundings will help the little ones feel more comfortable and secure.

• Get your kids into a routine as soon as you can. Mine started at the local village school less than 2 weeks after arriving, and although there were tears for the first 2 weeks, they love it and soon settled in.

• Try to get the family and children involved in a club or sporting activity. This will help to widen their circle of friends, and can increase the whole family´s social circle.

• Emphasise the positive aspects of the move, be it the weather, surroundings, people, location, new home.. and above all be patient. Moving to a new country is a stressful time, but also a wonderful, life enriching experience for your kids. Expect a few tears and sleepless nights and be ready to offer plenty of reassurance.

Try the acid test. After 2 years living in Spain I asked my boys if they would want to return to England. The answer was a resounding – NO!!