Parents planning to relocate to property overseas obviously have their children’s welfare to take into account. But if you’re moving to find a better quality of life, you might already have decided that it is the best decision for your loved ones.

Even if not, it’s worth remembering that, in many other countries where English is not the first language, it is still widely spoken. And there are some countries – such as the USA, Canada and Australia – where English is spoken anyway.

Children are resourceful and adaptable – as a parent it’s your job to worry about them, but that’s because they tend not to worry too much themselves. Many children will see living abroad as an extended holiday and will soon make friends and pick up the language – often faster than you can yourself.

Just look at high-profile examples such as David Beckham and wife Victoria, whose three sons have seen their parents move from the UK to Madrid, then to Los Angeles, before David moved back to Europe to join AC Milan. This tour of property in Spain, the USA and Italy seems to have had no ill effects on the young Beckhams, who are often snapped looking perfectly happy in the tabloids.

The Language Advantage

Moving to property abroad is no problem for young children. Remember, they are still learning their first language – there’s plenty of room for a second. Research into bilingualism shows that children’s brains are perfectly well equipped to handle two different languages, without either suffering from the presence of the other.

For instance, the typical number of words a young person can speak in one language is not the total number of words it is possible for them to know – so if they are brought up in a bilingual setting, it doesn’t mean they will only learn each language half as well. Studies have found that they progress at roughly the same pace as native speakers of either one of the languages.

In fact, having children around could be a useful way for adults to learn the language after moving to property overseas. Children are more likely to get involved in community activities – such as schooling – as they don’t have much choice about it. Meeting other parents at the school gates is a great way to start chatting without it really mattering if you forget a word, mess up your grammar or make some other kind of mistake.

Education in Other Nations

One of the key figures often given to parents when looking at schools is the average number of children per class. Internationally, figures on this are compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In 2009, the OECD published its latest findings for state-run primary schools in a number of the countries that it covers, including much of Europe, the US and Australia. For parents considering moving to property in the USA to keep their child in an English-language schooling system, the drop in average class size is relatively slight, from 25.8 pupils in the UK to 23.6 in the USA.

For those who opt to move to property in France, Spain, Portugal or Italy, however, the advantages in terms of average class size are greater. France averages 22.6 pupils per class, while Spain and Portugal drop below the 20-pupil threshold at class sizes of 19.5 pupils each on average.

On this indicator, though, it is property in Italy that might prove the best for parents, with average primary school class sizes of just 18.4 pupils in the country’s state-run educational establishments – one of the lowest on the continent.

Have you moved a family abroad? Leave us your comments and advice below