Immigrating to Canada with your children in tow creates a separate set of challenges; that you may not have expected. Not only do you have to tackle the larger issues, such as housing and employment, but you also have to consider schooling, friends and some of the more complex issues that follow. Knowing what to expect in the process can make you better prepared to handle these challenges.

Canada’s school year runs from September to June; however, children can join the school year once it has already begun. There are short breaks for Christmas, March Break and various national and religious holidays. The summer vacation lasts through July and August and there are no classes during this time. Daily hours are typically Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm, but can vary depending on the school. Private schools can operate on a different timeframe than the public schools, but tend to follow a similar schedule. A typical curriculum includes math, English spelling and grammar, French, Canadian history, geography, art, physical education and sex education. School-sponsored sports and other extra-curricular activities can occur outside of regular school hours.

To account for a multi-cultural student population, religious education is largely absent in the public schools. Some schools have implemented non-denominational “prayer rooms” to allow students to practice daily religious observations. Separate or parochial schools that are affiliated with religious groups, such as Roman-Catholic Separate School Boards, or Jewish parochial schools, do exist. These schools may accept students of other religious denominations, but give first priority to those belonging to their own religious community. For the most part, the quality of education amongst schools is equal, and education is highly regulated in Canada in an attempt to foster and maintain this equality.

Many children in Canada are exposed to a multi-cultural environment from a young age, and as such, have developed a tolerance and appreciation for different cultures. Therefore, you should have little worry of your child fitting in with the other students. Difficulties with the language may pose a problem if your child cannot speak English or French, depending on where in Canada you live, although since children tend to develop language skills quite quickly this should not be an issue for long. These days, most schools and teachers have taught children from other countries, and are familiar with the challenges that can follow. You should keep in close contact with your children’s teachers, and as much as possible inquire as to how they are doing in the classroom and the schoolyard. Too often, immigrant parents neglect the social aspect of their children’s schooling, and can miss key signs of trouble. Such monitoring is even more important, considering that immigrant children may hesitate to tell teachers and parents about trouble they experience with other students for fear of making the situation worse, or causing even more distress with parents already handling their own problems.

It is difficult to generalize the liberalism of children in Canada, because of the level of multi-culturalism. Some children are raised more strictly than others, depending on the nationality of their parents. However, these days, the typical Canadian child develops an interest in North American music, fashion and popular culture at an early age. This can be a cause of concern for immigrant parents whose children develop behaviors that are in stark contrast to the sensibilities of their original culture. It is important to understand that your child is now exposed to ideas and behaviors more typical of a Canadian youngster. Keeping true to a youngster’s natural state of curiosity, your children may experiment with some of these behaviors while developing their own personalities. Try to differentiate between potentially destructive behaviors, and those that simply indicate your child’s adjustment to Canada.

The struggles that children face with their immigrant parents are a familiar occurrence among such families. Generations of immigrants have watched their children, whether born in their “old” countries or in Canada, develop a cultural identity much different from their own. Those who keep an open mind to the new cultural influences make the transition most successfully, especially with older children.

Maintain open dialogue with your children about their new friends and experiences. Meet and get to know the new people in their lives, including friends, fellow students and teachers. Discuss any negative issues with patience and understanding to ensure that you do not compromise the open flow of communication between yourself and your children. Keeping true to the Canadian appreciation of other cultures, welcome the changes and differences that develop in your family as much as possible. Change an be a good thing…isn’t that why you came to Canada?

About Author

As the youngest child of immigrant parents, Michelle speaks from personal, as well as professional experience. Michelle Straka is a professional Recruiting and Human Resources Consultant. She began her career with RWH International in 1998, providing job search and immigration consultation services to residents of Canada, U.S., South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and more. She has broad experience assisting clients from all over the world on the many issues regarding relocation to Canada and the U.S., including employment searches. She joined DGA Careers, which recruits entry- to executive-level professionals across Canada, in September 2000 as a Senior Recruiting Consultant. She also administers the insurance-specific recruiting websites Insuranceworks.ca and Insuranceworks.com, servicing Canada and the U.S. respectively. She can be reached at Michelle@dgacareers.com