[dckiwi]

Hello! My husband and I have been reading your posts now for months as we prepare for our move. Thank you all for the advice you have provided on just about every topic related to moving to NZ! We are moving to Hamilton in October with our three children (4, 2 and 9 months) and will have many questions as our move date approaches.

Mia

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Mia and welcome to the forum
Anything you can't find here just ask.

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[kanatakiwi]

welcome, you'll find lots of help here.

[Park City Partner]

From one Washingtonian to another, Hello! I was born and raised in DC and my family is still there. You will certainly have a bit of culture shock when you get here but NZ is lovely. Good luck with your move!

Amy

[holland]

Hi Mia and welcome xx

[Bruckner]

What part of DC? And welcome to the forum!

Emily

[jess]

(we moved from Virginia to NZ.)

Welcome to the forum!! :D

As Dave and Caroline said, if you can't find it using Search, feel free to ask questions.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Hello & Welcome to forum.

There are a a few of us here with similar age children if you have any questions we might be able to help with. Mine are 4, 2 and nearly 6 months, very similar to yours!

[dckiwi]

Hello & Welcome to forum.

There are a a few of us here with similar age children if you have any questions we might be able to help with. Mine are 4, 2 and nearly 6 months, very similar to yours!

Thanks Family of Monkeys! I am only now turning my attention toward the matter of how this will effect our little children and how best to prepare them and help them with this move. Any advice you have on this is welcome. Also, do you have any thoughts about meeting other families with similar aged kiddos? Since we are moving several months before our daughter would start school, I am wondering how to meet the community outside of a school environment. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Familyofmonkeys]

This forum is a good start for meeting other people. There are people living in Hamilton area....just post something and ask to meet when you get here or maybe borrow some old toys. Plenty of other people seemed to have done the same. Also, look up and find nearest 'Playcentre' to where you intend to be. Personally, I have not joined one yet, as we are only in short term rental and want to be settled somewhere and unpack properly before filling life with lots of activities, but it is a good place to start.

As for preparing the kids...I got a few books...one called Amazing Airoplanes, that shows what happens at an airport and on a plane. I also showed my 4 year old a few maps and a globe, to show her where we were going, so that she could understand that it was a long way. We also talked alot about how things would be different, and showed them some pictures of things we could visit e.g. sky tower, so they had something fun to look forward to in the first few days. Kids will find it a bit boring being dragged around to banks etc, so try and plan some fun things they can do with you..even just little things like going to see a big fountain in the park etc. I found it helped alot.

Keeping kids routine e.g. naps, meal times, bedtimes etc can really help them adjust to different time zone etc, and help them settle quickly as they will know what is required of them which is comforting.