IN the rush to start afresh in France some things can be left behind.
One of these may be the thoughts and feelings of other members of the family, especially those of the children who may have had no say in the decision to move.
How many parents have explained to their children the reasons behind a move, or looked to provide language lessons before heading out?
These are some of the points raised by journalist Paul Jenner who has written books on moving aboard and interviewed many expats.
But realising that he had rarely spoke to any of the kids involved in a move, his article in the Daily Telegraph shows that for many it wasn’t all about running through fields in the sunshine.
Like their parents many children were thrust into an area where they knew little about the way of life or language, but unlike their parents, they had to spend six hours at school in this completely new environment.
Paul Jenner offers five tips to parents so that their children can settle into their new home:
Be patient with kids
Let them get to know the area
Provide language tuition beforehand
Find local English-speaking families to help in early days
Make sure family members come out to visit
Have you moved out to France with young children? What advice would you offer to parents to ensure a move goes smoothly? Please leave a comment below.