Tips for Moving with Children to Malaysia

Coping with moving means managing many pieces, which only increase when you’re moving with school-age children. 

While you may be worried about settling into a new home, your kids’ whole world is going to be uprooted and turned upside down by the relocation. They will lose friends and familiarity and will most likely have a difficult time adjusting to the new circumstances.

Here’s how to reduce moving stress, help kids adjust to the transition – from moving day to school search, and even look forward to it too.

Include your children in the conversation early on will help put them at ease during the transition. Fill them out as much information about the move as soon as possible. Listen to and answer any questions they may have, and be receptive to both positive and negative reactions. Sometimes, even if the move means an improvement in family life, children don't always understand that and may be focused on the negative aspects of the transition such as saying goodbye to existing friends.

If you have toddlers or pre-schoolers, try reading them children's books or use clips of their favourite TV show about the moving process to help your children understand their emotions and deal with them positively. We recommend The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain as one to check out.

A baby doesn't care if the knickknacks are all unpacked. They want you to spend time with them. If you can be engaged and playful with them, that will make a big difference in how they adjust. So don’t forget to make time for lots of hugs and tickles. When they're off to their new school, you can take your time to decorate the place.

Put your pre-schooler in charge of packing up some of their books or games so they feel they're contributing. Recruit your kids to handle simple jobs that need to be done prior to your move is a win for both of you. If you have small children, we recommend getting them boxes to play with while packing up their rooms. Give them a list that include cleaning duties and toys that need to be packed before the move. 

With a proper spin, get colourful stickers or tape to mark each box for a fast and easy kid-approved organization method. Teach them how to pack correctly while letting them be a part of the process.

Give your children their own miniature packing box that can be decorated with stickers, paints and pictures and used for a few of their favourite things. Ensure the box is small enough to place on the plane and travel with them to their new destination.

At this age, seeing is believing. Ideally, take your children to visit the new house or play in the new yard before the move. If that's not possible, take a camera or video recorder with you when you visit. Take pictures and videos of the new home, the child’s room, the school and parks nearby. Utilize Google Maps and have virtual tour of the local playground, shops in the neighbourhood and their new school. Your children will get more excited before they arrive and have a firmer idea of what to expect.

Encourage your children to research the area you’re moving to, so that it’ll be more familiar to them once they move. Research sports teams, clubs, and other local groups to find out the best ways to immerse your family in the new town.

One of the things that stresses out kids most during the move is that they don’t have any control over their surroundings. Encourage them to decorate their room such as choosing the colour of their walls or let them draw out the layout of their room. Involving children in the move in this way has the added benefit of making them feel in control at a time when events in their lives can seem out of their hands.

Your children’s education will always be a priority, relocating abroad as a family does not need to derail their progress. Parents must make a choice that best suits their child’s temperament, interests, strengths and weaknesses, while ensuring that their choice is in line with their child’s future goals.  

If your children are changing schools, you’ll need to make sure you have their records transferred to the new school. However, to make sure you’re making the best choice, it’s worth taking the time to consider your options.

To begin the enrollment process with the new school, make sure all records are transferred as soon as possible. Talk to teachers and administrators before your child’s first day of school and be sure to also let the new school know about any special needs or issues your child may have.

If you have obtained an Employment pass, your children of under 18 years old can apply for a Dependent Pass as the endorsement will be made by the Immigration Department. However, if your children are above 18 years old, they are required to apply for a Student Pass from the Department of Immigration Malaysia. For students from most countries, the application can be made at State Immigration Office via schools or universities.

Click the links for more information about Dependent Pass and Student Pass

This is a vital decision that will decide what education your child receives.

Public schools in Malaysia are the least costly option as there are no tuition fees acquired. Malaysia government provides free education for 6 years of primary education (age 7-12) and 5 years of secondary education (age 13-17) in public schools. 

The facilities in these schools are generally adequate and have most of the basic items required for your children’s education. However, the student-to-teacher ratio can be higher than in private and international schools.

Foreign students will find it easier to integrate into Malaysia society, as they forge close ties with their local schoolmates and celebrate local holidays and festivals together. Younger kids can pick up new languages and make new friends quickly. If you are looking a place to help your children feel a greater sense of belonging in Malaysia local schools may thus to be the superior option.

Although private schools follow the same curriculum and guidelines decided by the government, the method of delivery varies in that it is decided by the school board. The schools are in charge of the recruitment of the teachers and the admission of students.

Unlike public schools, the size of the class is smaller and tend to have better and wider range of facilities and resources available for your children, which means higher cost. 

Enrolling into a private school may allow your children to cope with the new environment much easier as they are less likely to struggle with the culture shock that they may experience in a public school. The teachers in private schools usually have to go through some training in order to communicate with their students more effectively and handling students from different cultures and backgrounds.

Discover great Private Schools in Malaysia here

International schools are a good choice for expatriates who intend to return to their home country with their children in the near future, as well as for parents who intend to send their children to schools abroad.

The diversity in curriculum choices and the goals of each school vary widely but they usually adopt the teaching methodologies and curricula of other countries. Their qualification is also widely accepted by many universities and colleges internationally. If you might be relocating again while your children are in education this may be the best option for you.

Discover great International Schools in Malaysia here

Ideally, you can visit the new school you have chosen with your children. This will help ease them into their new environment. They will be able to meet their future teachers and get a feel for what their new school will be like.

If that is not possible, you can arrange a brief video call with the new teacher can also help, especially if the teacher is skilled at providing a developmentally appropriate connection for the child.

The decision though is up to you and your family. If you have the flexibility to choose when you move your family, then you should consider moving during the holidays or before the school year. 

Your kids will be able to start the new term together with other new kids and everyone will be starting the year together. This way, your children can adapt to their new environment much easier, and their studies will not get interrupted. 

Uproot your children or teens from their familiar surroundings can be as heart breaking as it is exciting, especially if your older child has to leave their friends they worked hard to make last time. So don’t be surprised if they don’t settle in straight away. The theory generally goes, that the older the child the more likely the move is to pose challenges because they have a stronger connection to their previous home. 

Be calm and patient as they work through emotions, but continue to set appropriate, positive, and healthy routines. Make sure you remain positive about the new home as young children often pick up on their parents’ emotions – especially when the parent is stressed or anxious. Who knows? The move may well end up being the best choice your family has ever made!