book for younger children on emigration?

[wild rose]

I've been trying to think of ways I can make the move easier for my youngest daughter who's only just turned 4. I know that at this age as long as she's got her mum, dad and big brother she'll be ok in the long run but I thought that maybe a book on the subject aimed at her age group may help to prepare her for the upheaval. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

Thanks

[ali]

Not heard of one but you'll probably be the best placed to prepare your 4 year old.

[wild rose]

Not heard of one but you'll probably be the best placed to prepare your 4 year old.

 

Thanks Ali, I have of course already begun preparing her for the move but thought that maybe a fun book we could read together may help her to understand the process even more. I find that sometimes kids understand things better if they are put across in a number of different ways and this may have just been one that could help put things into perspective for her. I was just wondering if anyone had come across any.

[kibanje]

Sorry can't help but if you find one I'd be really interested as I was thinking of getting something for my 3 year old.

[Walkabout]

I havent bought them but found these...

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Mission-Detective-Mike-understand-ebook/dp/B00ET5XRNE/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1VWBNXT4XWHRYDK47QXF

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moving-planet-isnt-easy-Catalina-ebook/dp/B00APOUW3G/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HXK4SYXRMZ96WP23S52

 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sammys-Next-Move-Helen-Maffini-ebook/dp/B004L62DDG/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409010561&sr=1-9&keywords=moving+to+a+new+country (not sure on the age for this one)

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Bye-Good-Deborah-Underwood/dp/0547928521/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=02JZY5QXAMVXRAZP8C68#reader_0547928521

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/There-Here-Laurel-Croza/dp/1554983657/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409009850&sr=1-6&keywords=moving+to+a+new+country

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Know-Here-Laurel-Croza/dp/1554983932/ref=sr_1_19?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409010215&sr=1-19&keywords=moving+to+a+new+country

[portlaunay]

I think I'd be worried that books would raise unnecessary concerns or anxieties that would otherwise not have been an issue at that time. I think you may be right about children not being able to articulate fully their feelings but by using methods of communication that they're more comfortable with might reveal their true feelings.

 

Why not ask her to draw a picture about the move or make up a song? At 4 I'd say they are unlikely to fully understand the implications of what's ahead and are more likely to mirror your feelings and reactions. I know when we came over (when my daughter was 4), I was hyper stressed and frantic in the weeks before the move and she told me she was looking forward to moving so that I would be happier. She didn't really care about the move, she just wanted her old dad back.

[jac2011]

My son is 3 and we have talked about the move so much since he was born, he talks about the move as if its an everyday occurance and we dont even move for 12 months. He knows the flag if he see's it on the TV, he talks about the animals, the flight, living there forever, starting school when he is 5 over there, having a new house, the hot weather. I am sure, in some senses he doesn't see the huge move that this will be but I think that may be a good thing for a child so young, they have no fears and can embrace everything. I am just surprised at how much he has picked up from our families conversations over the years without us realising.

[rubyron]

My 5 year old has this

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-For-Parents-Australia-Everything/dp/1743214189/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1409041376&sr=8-9&keywords=lonely+planet+not+for+parents

 

Took it to Pre-school (now school) for show and tell and teachers go through it with him. He likes it that its not for parents. He likes some of the nature programmes on Australia as well. We talk about the different words used in Australia - chips for crisps, truck not lorry, pants for trousers etc. It is fun for him

[jac2011]

Rubyron, you have made my day. I dont know why (or if its a Lancashire thing) but I have always referred to trousers as 'pants' and wherever I have lived in the UK i have been given a funny look. My husband does it too so I am presuming its where we are from. I will be so happy to have that classed as normal in Australia.

 

A nurse telling a patient to pull your pants down is not very useful if there is a difference in meaning haha

[rubyron]

You will fit right in! Yo-gurt for yoghurt as well. My son loves saying that one. He finds the whole pants thing a bit odd!

 

We talk about Australia a lot to our kids and hopefully that helps. Eldest was born there but we left when he was nearly a year old. They are too young to understand the gravity of the situation obviously. Leaving grandparents, school friends etc. My eldest worries about silly things like leaving his football team. But its huge to him. Our little one is too young to care thank goodness. Just got to get there now!

[jac2011]

Mine are 10,8 and 3 and have spent the last 6 years ready to emigrate so I think its normal for them now. None of them are upset about emigrating (I hope it stays that way). We agreed for my 10 year old to stay till the end of her school year so she can attend the leavers ceremonies and her friends would be going on to various high schools anyway. My second youngest is so laid back and plays with a group of lads that he really doesn't mind moving schools at all. They talk about it, but even at their age I dont think they realise what we are doing. We are also lucky in that, we moved away from family 3 years ago for me to study and we knew at that point that it would help the children in not having close ties to family when we do move.

 

The whole 6 years has been forward planned to ensure a smooth as possible transition for the children. When I read emigrating books myself that I had bought, I wasn't particularly impressed. It was very basic information and I think the same goes for the children's books.

 

My three year old loves nothing more than sitting with me on the internet looking at images of Australian animals and learning about them, or looking at the large aeroplanes that fly to Australia and watching Youtube videos of what its like inside the aircraft. He even sits with my 8 year old whilst they look at airline food choosing what meal they would like on the way!

 

My son told his nursery staff around 6 months ago we were moving to Australia, and they were a little shocked thinking we were going straight away. They were a little confused when we said he would be leaving at the same time as all his friends in nursery when they go up to big school. He told the staff everything he knew on Australia and he had barely turned 3 at the time! hehe

[Laz]

I think all kids are different and nothing really can prepare them for moving. We left the UK (supposedly for good) when my eldest was 4 and he never thought anything of it. He found it hard being the new kid at school but that wasn't anything to do with the move. Now we are moving away again to Australia and my kids are 6 and 9 and although they have always known we will be moving one day, now that the day has come they are adamant they are not moving (the youngest has told all his friends he's not going, and the oldest says he's coming back as soon as he finishes school). So, my basic point is that some kids will be fine with it whether you prepare them or not, and others won't be. But at 4 I don't think a child will think anything much about it as long as he/she is with his/her immediate family.

[wild rose]

My 5 year old has this

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-For-Parents-Australia-Everything/dp/1743214189/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1409041376&sr=8-9&keywords=lonely+planet+not+for+parents

 

Took it to Pre-school (now school) for show and tell and teachers go through it with him. He likes it that its not for parents. He likes some of the nature programmes on Australia as well. We talk about the different words used in Australia - chips for crisps, truck not lorry, pants for trousers etc. It is fun for him

 

That looks quite fun, thanks Rubyron. In fact I think my 7 year old, Harry, would love it. They both talk about us moving as though it's completely normal and are happy to tell everyone and anyone who'll listen. They're both really excited to be reunited with their cousins who left for Perth earlier this year so they've got that to look forward to.

 

I think maybe @portlauney makes a good point, I wouldn't want to draw her attention to concerns that she doesn't actually have. Hmm maybe I'll give that idea a miss and continue with what I'm doing already. We talk about it all with them often. I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing but was trying to think of anything else that might help.

 

Thanks for your comments everyone x

[ImmilBees]

Glad i've read this.

 

 

We're trying to get out for when my daughter turns 5, which means she will have started the first year (reception year) at school and then we are taking her out 5 months later to start at the beginning of the Australian school year. I'm hoping that although she'll make friends the ties after 5 months aren't that strong.

 

What I am concerned about is the fact we're moving back closer to family, to allow us to save money, so for the past 18months we've only seen them every couple of weekends, and then next year she'll be with granparents at least 1 and a half days a week, so will be getting that attachment back, as will they.

 

My 14wk old doesn't have much say lol, but I can see grandparents getting attached already He'll be 21 months when we go )if we go when we aim to)

 

We talk to mydaughter about Australia. But she's very literal and it confuses her if you say something is going to happen, as she thinks you mean that very day or sometime soon, so when we get the visa granted, then i'll start bringing it into everyday life.