Moving Abroad With Kids: What American Families Need to Know
Moving abroad with children is one of the most common concerns we hear from American families considering the move to Brazil. The worry is understandable — you are not just changing your own life, you are changing your children's lives. Here is what the experience actually looks like, based on real families who have made the move.
Schools in Florianópolis
Florianópolis has several good schooling options for expat children. International schools — including bilingual Portuguese-English schools — are available and typically cost $300 to $800 per month, compared to $15,000 to $40,000 per year for US private schools. Brazilian public schools are free and accept foreign children, though instruction is entirely in Portuguese. Many expat families choose bilingual private schools as the best balance of quality, cost, and language immersion.
Children are remarkably fast language learners — most kids become conversational in Portuguese within three to six months of immersion, and fluent within a year. This bilingual ability is a genuine gift that will serve them for life.
Safety for Children
Florianópolis is one of the safest cities in Brazil and genuinely safer than many US cities for children. Kids play outside, ride bikes, and walk to school in ways that have become unusual in many American suburbs. The absence of gun violence — there are no school shooter drills, no active shooter protocols, no lockdown exercises — creates a measurably different psychological environment for children. Many American parents report that their children seem less anxious and more free in Florianópolis than they were in the US.
Healthcare for Children
Pediatric care in Brazil is excellent at private facilities and dramatically cheaper than in the US. A pediatrician visit costs $30 to $60. Children's hospitals in Florianópolis are well-equipped for routine and emergency care. Vaccinations follow a comprehensive national schedule and are free at public health posts. Many American parents are surprised by the quality and accessibility of children's healthcare in Brazil.
The Social Experience
Brazilian culture is exceptionally family-friendly and child-centered. Brazilians love children — strangers will engage with your kids, restaurants welcome children at all hours, and family life is central to Brazilian social culture. Expat children typically integrate quickly into Brazilian social life and often become bridges between their American parents and the local community.
Legal Considerations
If you are moving with children and are divorced or separated, you will need written consent from the other parent for your child to live abroad. Brazil takes international child relocation seriously, and moving a child abroad without the other parent's consent can have serious legal consequences. If both parents are moving together, this is not an issue. Consult a family law attorney before making any moves involving children from a separated household.
The Verdict
Most American families who move to Brazil with children report that it is one of the best decisions they have made — for themselves and for their kids. The combination of safety, affordability, outdoor lifestyle, language acquisition, and cultural richness creates an environment where children genuinely thrive. The biggest challenge is usually the parents' adjustment, not the children's.