Living in Spain’s Barcelona with Children

How to help your children settle into a new life living in Spain in the city of Barcelona

If you’ve set your heart on moving to live in Spain’s Barcelona with your children you’ll find there are certainly some pros and cons to the prospect!  Whilst enrolling young children in school and getting them used to the new Spanish lifestyle will present challenges to say the least, finding plenty of exciting things to do with younger expatriates will certainly not be a problem in Barcelona because the Spanish city offers a great deal to see and do and many of the attractions are perfect for families.

When living in Spain’s Barcelona with children, one of the best ways to help your children become more accustomed to living in their new country is to help them get really involved.  The more things you allow them to see and do, the more likely it is they will feel comfortable in their new environment.  From visiting Barcelona’s major family attractions to signing children up for local clubs, sporting organisations and other activities, there are plenty of opportunities for them to get involved with other children as well.

While you may be consumed with turning your new Spanish property into a home for the family, it is a good idea to take time out to help young expatriates learn more about their new city.  If you’re wondering what there is to see and do that is appropriate for children in Barcelona you will not be disappointed - some of the top activities for families in Barcelona include: -

• The park and zoo.  Located within the Parc de la Ciutadella, new residents will find a jungle awaits them!  The Barcelona Zoo has an extensive collection of animals, a restaurant, family picnic area and even a few rides.  The park itself is considered a favourite for many residents.

• Barcelona Aquarium.  If your little ones enjoy underwater critters best, Barcelona does not disappoint.  The aquarium offers a year round opportunity to see what it’s like under the sea.

• Movies.  Barcelona is home to a number of movie theatres, including its own IMAX cinema.  Whilst finding English language movies can be fairly tough it can also be done!

• Amusement parks.  A number of fully fledged amusement parks are located within the general Barcelona area.  The Tibidabo for example is about 30 minutes away and is considered ideal for young children.  Universal Studio’s Port Aventura is also fairly close.

• Beaches. This is of course one of the top draws for the Barcelona area for everyone!  There are four major beaches in close proximity all offering plenty of seaside fun for the entire family.

• Historic sites, museums, galleries and theatres.  If exposing your children to culture is on your list of things to do, Barcelona delivers!  The city is alive with artistic, educational and historic opportunities.

Getting young expatriates acclimated to the Barcelona landscape when living in Spain is going to demand time and patience.  If a language barrier is not present, the transition will generally go a bit more smoothly as well so consider taking steps to help your children learn Spanish and also work on getting them involved in local youth activities as well.  The sooner children make friends and get involved in their new community the more likely it is they will thrive.