Nadingo:
It's quite unfortunate that our people with kids in Canada do not want to assist us with their practical experiences over there.

Creativebelle:
So for those who are Catholics and want to enrol their kids in Catholic schools...

You should have the Child's baptismal certificate and also the Parent's baptismal certificate..

It's one of the requirements to enrol your kids in Catholic schools..

Honeysweetest:
I want it to thrive, what do you mean by game over? You mean it will close?
I think this thread will be fun if more hands are on deck.

Creativebelle:
For those travelling soon or later..
As new immigrant..these things will come handy until you find your foot..
Here is an extensive list of what to buy..
These are things that are needed for the kids especially.

And also to those travelling in Winter

1) Travel wears(Winter Jackets ,Winter Boots,Gloves, Headwarmers, Shawls, Cardigans,Socks) especially those travelling in Winter.

2) Drugs (Vitamin C, Multivitamins, Pain relief (paracetamol) Malaria drugs, Cough syrups

3)Universal Charger,Power bank

4)Mackintosh for kids

5) Hair extensions for kids and Adults, Hair accessories for kids

6)Bathing soaps,Bathing creams,Sponges,Toothbrushes

7)Shea butter, Aboniki

Travel pillows if you have long layovers

9)Blankets

10)Pyjamas for the kids

11)Vaseline

12)African story books

13)Blood pressure Monitor (esp those travelling alone with kids(check your blood pressure from time to time)

FOODSTUFFS

Extensive list of food stuffs to travel with:

1)Snacks for the kids

2) Cereal for kids

3)Spices (Curry,Thyme,Ginger, Garlic ,etc

4)Pepper soup spice

5)Seasoning (Non chicken flavour

6)Ground pepper, Ground crayfish

7)Ground Ewedu,Ugwu, Bitterleaf etc

Locust beans ( dried),Potash (kaun)

9)Garri

10) Beans

11)Ground Egusi,Ogbono etc

12)Poundo Yam,Semo, Elubo etc

13)Dried fish etc

14)Satchet Tomato paste

15) Pastas

16)Noodles (non chicken flavour

18)Turning sticks, Swallow packer

19) Manual blender

20) Groundnut


Pls feel free to add to this list..

If you are travelling with one or more than one child..pls feel free to utilize your 23kg..Going with things you need esp going with kids helps you save as a new immigrant.

It comes handy for those travelling in Winter.. as you may be indoors most times..

All items should be carefully and neatly packed in Zip locks

donbabchizy:
Thank you for this thread! So much appreciate!
If I may ask? What do we need power bank and universal charger for ? When there's 247 light in Canada? Or do u mean while in the plane?? Secondly how do we package all this food stuffs and others without being charged so much for luggages? Thank you so much and I await your swift response..

purplerain:
Hello,
We applied for my baby’s passport in April (received it in Aug) and she doesn’t have NIN. We weren’t asked for it either

Creativebelle:
Lol..I meant otherwise..thread wont close oooo..

KRTL:
I think she meant this thread will be loaded once she's in Canada

sam4774:
Thanks for the reply, so 5 months for a Nigerian passport? nawa ooo please what was the cost as well as other costs that come with dealing with Nigerian parastatals.

Creativebelle:
For those travelling soon or later..
As new immigrant..these things will come handy until you find your foot..
Here is an extensive list of what to buy..
These are things that are needed for the kids especially.

And also to those travelling in Winter

1) Travel wears(Winter Jackets ,Winter Boots,Gloves, Headwarmers, Shawls, Cardigans,Socks) especially those travelling in Winter.

2) Drugs (Vitamin C, Multivitamins, Pain relief (paracetamol) Malaria drugs, Cough syrups

3)Universal Charger,Power bank

4)Mackintosh for kids

5) Hair extensions for kids and Adults, Hair accessories for kids

6)Bathing soaps,Bathing creams,Sponges,Toothbrushes

7)Shea butter, Aboniki

Travel pillows if you have long layovers

9)Blankets

10)Pyjamas for the kids

11)Vaseline

12)African story books

13)Blood pressure Monitor (esp those travelling alone with kids(check your blood pressure from time to time)

FOODSTUFFS

Extensive list of food stuffs to travel with:

1)Snacks for the kids

2) Cereal for kids

3)Spices (Curry,Thyme,Ginger, Garlic ,etc

4)Pepper soup spice

5)Seasoning (Non chicken flavour

6)Ground pepper, Ground crayfish

7)Ground Ewedu,Ugwu, Bitterleaf etc

Locust beans ( dried),Potash (kaun)

9)Garri

10) Beans

11)Ground Egusi,Ogbono etc

12)Poundo Yam,Semo, Elubo etc

13)Dried fish etc

14)Satchet Tomato paste

15) Pastas

16)Noodles (non chicken flavour

18)Turning sticks, Swallow packer

19) Manual blender

20) Groundnut


Pls feel free to add to this list..

If you are travelling with one or more than one child..pls feel free to utilize your 23kg..Going with things you need esp going with kids helps you save as a new immigrant.

It comes handy for those travelling in Winter.. as you may be indoors most times..

All items should be carefully and neatly packed in Zip locks

megastu:
You dont need power bank in Canada

Creativebelle:
We know ..we need it for the journey cos we got kids..hyperactive kids that will probably drain our phone batteries..lol

throwaway123:


You actually need it.. especially if you never buy car... I dey carry my power bank steady. You don't want a flat battery when google maps is your only way home.

I suffered the day my battery went dead. Had to go into a chinese cafe and beg the attendant to help charge for some few minutes to get details of my connecting buses and my way home

throwaway123:
All these bring iru bring garri no be the koko.

Would share some bit of not personal and personal experience.

1. Budget well for housing. Houses are fucking expensive for families. As a single person you can pair up and share bunks and pay $800 but with a family? You need a proper house. A single 1 bedroom goes for at least $1800 CAD in Ontario and British Columbia.

You might be lucky to get something cheaper in Alberta or Winnipeg but even there you would have to budget at least $1300 per month. Also note that Landlords won't just rent you anything anyhow. If you are a family of four. Minimum you can take is a 2 bedroom. Also if the kids are teenagers of different sexes please note you might be required to get individual rooms for them .so factor all these in your budget . Housing is one of the biggest headache. With what the Landlords went through during the pandemic. A lot are asking for minimum 4 months or even 6months rent. It can be worse if you landed and have no job or credit history with kids. Omoh. You go hear am. More reason sometimes it is better for one of the primary applicant land first and see what's happening before you bundle the battalions down. You don't want to spending your Nigerian earned naira
money here. I can guarantee you, two months and your mutli year savings from Nigeria is gone.


2. For parents with kids who are much younger and need a minder, nanny, daycare or what not. Getting placement in daycares is a fucking nightmare. Some daycares have waiting list of 100 families. Heck even oyinbo people here start joining the wait list for daycares once they are pregnant. So they can get ahead and get a placement immediately they give birth and start daycare once they are ready to return back to work. Same applies to to elementary schools . You have to apply for placement.

Fees for daycare is like $35 per day in most provinces. Your province might provide subsidies if both parents are working.

When you land. To cut your spendings and not pay for daycare at least for a start or pending when you find a placement. Parents might need to alternate their working hours. Maybe wife works nights, husband mornings so someone is always home. Or for those guys wey no sabi look after kids(sorry is your case) . You might need to take up two jobs because sadly a single income cannot cater for the needs of most families here after dem knack you taxes , EI, CPP.

3. Government offers child care grants per child. You might receive as much as $700 monthly per child depending on Province. You need to file this immediately you land and have all the documents required. Takes about 6weeks for the Canadian Revenue Agency to get back to you with a cheque. The amount would reduce depending on your income the next time they compute your yearly taxes.


4. Toddler foods can be a problem. All those Nutribon, Golden Moore no dey here and kids might really not like the substitutes around. Also buying from African stores is expensive. N1600 Golden moore 800g goes for like $24. That's about 12k and would advise you pack plenty of these when coming if you have toddlers.

5.. There are always parks and playgrounds around most areas but need adult supervision. Kids do well with the cold, but I would advise you pack along drugs for kids. Heck there is a crises were Tylenol for kids (paracetamol) and Advil(pain relief, cold, catarrh drugs) are almost not on any shelves in Canada. There's scarcity. So pack Cough syrup, kids paracetamol plenty. Infact if you can pack 5carton.. carry am.


6. What else am I missing? RESP? That's too complex to talk about here. You would get an handle once you land and start earning. It's a targetted education savings plans towards your kids colleges. Elementary and high school is free in public institutions but colleges and universities are fucking expensive. So parents open interest free savings accounts for each kids and government might even match a certain level of amount towards paying for your kids university education. See below link for a summary.

https://www.sunlife.ca/en/offer/resp/?WT.mc_id=en-ca:sem:paid:Google:national:X%7cSLF_NAT%7cPGS%7cGNR%7cEX%7cEN%7cCA%7cX%7cAways-On%7cX%7cX%7cGeneric_Product_Investment:resp&WT.srch=1&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsWKUMn8bfVlSOz8TFO4-LablBLb0oZhk-mkrxnZTgGI_c5_0u8jJUaAg_5EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!13660!3!476093472664!e!!g!!resp&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsWKUMn8bfVlSOz8TFO4-LablBLb0oZhk-mkrxnZTgGI_c5_0u8jJUaAg_5EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


7. Apply for as much benefits as you can get please. Don't bleed the society but if you are struggling. Ask for help. There are always government programs out there to help especially for families with kids.

8. Lastly don't paint Nigeria as a bad country to your kids. Let them learn the good values the country teaches. Small time i have spent in parks. The kids can swear for Africa and it is almost all of them. We get bad kids for naija, but for the posh area I stay . I expected better language and manners. Also social vices are very rife. Smoking , drugs, partying amongst teenagers and whatnot. Omoh the amount of cigarettes butts i saw in the span of 1 week i didn't see it in my 30 plus years staying in the most ghettoish parts of most Nigerian cities. So you need to wear that toga of an African parent and try as much as possible to be friends with your kids so they can tell you everything that goes on in their lives. Especially the teenagers.

Let them learn their local languages. Speak it with them. A lot of kids of immigrants lose their identities and end up depressed abi confused because they are caught up in two different worlds. One where the customs of their parents is different from where they now call home; whilst where they call home might not be as accepting of them as the "natural born" kids here. I see a lot and I am speaking from experience. The kids i have seen that are well adjusted are ones where their Nigerian roots seem a lot intact. Caveat not saying others aren't. But it's hsrd when a child tries to assimilate a culture that's different and can't draw inspiration from their closest loved ones but strangers.

The most traumatic time of my life was when we moved to a different region in Nigeria when i was in Primary 6. I was the only different kid who couldn't speak the local language well. I had a different accent. And it was hell making friends. The kids gave me names and i only had one or two friends. I dreaded going to school because i was just different. Now imagine the scales of differences here and the challenges your kid MIGHT likely face? They might be the only black kids in their entire class or even school if you move into more remote areas. So you need to be closer to them and support them. This is where fathers also need to play active roles. Takes a lot of parenting to support kids moving to a new society to settle in well. On the face value you might think they are settled but some deep structural issues don't crop up until later in life. So please be listening, engaging and support them.


I hope i tried a bit.. I don't have it all figured out yet. But we learn as we go.

throwaway123:
All these bring iru bring garri no be the koko.

Would share some bit of not personal and personal experience.

1. Budget well for housing. Houses are fucking expensive for families. As a single person you can pair up and share bunks and pay $800 but with a family? You need a proper house. A single 1 bedroom goes for at least $1800 CAD in Ontario and British Columbia.

You might be lucky to get something cheaper in Alberta or Winnipeg but even there you would have to budget at least $1300 per month. Also note that Landlords won't just rent you anything anyhow. If you are a family of four. Minimum you can take is a 2 bedroom. Also if the kids are teenagers of different sexes please note you might be required to get individual rooms for them .so factor all these in your budget . Housing is one of the biggest headache. With what the Landlords went through during the pandemic. A lot are asking for minimum 4 months or even 6months rent. It can be worse if you landed and have no job or credit history with kids. Omoh. You go hear am. More reason sometimes it is better for one of the primary applicant land first and see what's happening before you bundle the battalions down. You don't want to spending your Nigerian earned naira
money here. I can guarantee you, two months and your mutli year savings from Nigeria is gone.


2. For parents with kids who are much younger and need a minder, nanny, daycare or what not. Getting placement in daycares is a fucking nightmare. Some daycares have waiting list of 100 families. Heck even oyinbo people here start joining the wait list for daycares once they are pregnant. So they can get ahead and get a placement immediately they give birth and start daycare once they are ready to return back to work. Same applies to to elementary schools . You have to apply for placement.

Fees for daycare is like $35 per day in most provinces. Your province might provide subsidies if both parents are working.

When you land. To cut your spendings and not pay for daycare at least for a start or pending when you find a placement. Parents might need to alternate their working hours. Maybe wife works nights, husband mornings so someone is always home. Or for those guys wey no sabi look after kids(sorry is your case) . You might need to take up two jobs because sadly a single income cannot cater for the needs of most families here after dem knack you taxes , EI, CPP.

3. Government offers child care grants per child. You might receive as much as $700 monthly per child depending on Province. You need to file this immediately you land and have all the documents required. Takes about 6weeks for the Canadian Revenue Agency to get back to you with a cheque. The amount would reduce depending on your income the next time they compute your yearly taxes.


4. Toddler foods can be a problem. All those Nutribon, Golden Moore no dey here and kids might really not like the substitutes around. Also buying from African stores is expensive. N1600 Golden moore 800g goes for like $24. That's about 12k and would advise you pack plenty of these when coming if you have toddlers.

5.. There are always parks and playgrounds around most areas but need adult supervision. Kids do well with the cold, but I would advise you pack along drugs for kids. Heck there is a crises were Tylenol for kids (paracetamol) and Advil(pain relief, cold, catarrh drugs) are almost not on any shelves in Canada. There's scarcity. So pack Cough syrup, kids paracetamol plenty. Infact if you can pack 5carton.. carry am.


6. What else am I missing? RESP? That's too complex to talk about here. You would get an handle once you land and start earning. It's a targetted education savings plans towards your kids colleges. Elementary and high school is free in public institutions but colleges and universities are fucking expensive. So parents open interest free savings accounts for each kids and government might even match a certain level of amount towards paying for your kids university education. See below link for a summary.

https://www.sunlife.ca/en/offer/resp/?WT.mc_id=en-ca:sem:paid:Google:national:X%7cSLF_NAT%7cPGS%7cGNR%7cEX%7cEN%7cCA%7cX%7cAways-On%7cX%7cX%7cGeneric_Product_Investment:resp&WT.srch=1&ef_id=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsWKUMn8bfVlSOz8TFO4-LablBLb0oZhk-mkrxnZTgGI_c5_0u8jJUaAg_5EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!13660!3!476093472664!e!!g!!resp&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsWKUMn8bfVlSOz8TFO4-LablBLb0oZhk-mkrxnZTgGI_c5_0u8jJUaAg_5EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


7. Apply for as much benefits as you can get please. Don't bleed the society but if you are struggling. Ask for help. There are always government programs out there to help especially for families with kids.

8. Lastly don't paint Nigeria as a bad country to your kids. Let them learn the good values the country teaches. Small time i have spent in parks. The kids can swear for Africa and it is almost all of them. We get bad kids for naija, but for the posh area I stay . I expected better language and manners. Also social vices are very rife. Smoking , drugs, partying amongst teenagers and whatnot. Omoh the amount of cigarettes butts i saw in the span of 1 week i didn't see it in my 30 plus years staying in the most ghettoish parts of most Nigerian cities. So you need to wear that toga of an African parent and try as much as possible to be friends with your kids so they can tell you everything that goes on in their lives. Especially the teenagers.

Let them learn their local languages. Speak it with them. A lot of kids of immigrants lose their identities and end up depressed abi confused because they are caught up in two different worlds. One where the customs of their parents is different from where they now call home; whilst where they call home might not be as accepting of them as the "natural born" kids here. I see a lot and I am speaking from experience. The kids i have seen that are well adjusted are ones where their Nigerian roots seem a lot intact. Caveat not saying others aren't. But it's hsrd when a child tries to assimilate a culture that's different and can't draw inspiration from their closest loved ones but strangers.

The most traumatic time of my life was when we moved to a different region in Nigeria when i was in Primary 6. I was the only different kid who couldn't speak the local language well. I had a different accent. And it was hell making friends. The kids gave me names and i only had one or two friends. I dreaded going to school because i was just different. Now imagine the scales of differences here and the challenges your kid MIGHT likely face? They might be the only black kids in their entire class or even school if you move into more remote areas. So you need to be closer to them and support them. This is where fathers also need to play active roles. Takes a lot of parenting to support kids moving to a new society to settle in well. On the face value you might think they are settled but some deep structural issues don't crop up until later in life. So please be listening, engaging and support them.


I hope i tried a bit.. I don't have it all figured out yet. But we learn as we go.

KRTL:
Are these applicable to International students who are travelling with kids or just PRs..? Thank you

Creativebelle:
Wow wow..this is an eye opener..thanks for this..Housing tho..God will help us ooo lol..
Some mothers are going alone with the kids..God will see everyone through.. thank you

Honeysweetest:
nawa oo, yes naa. Hian

Profgordons:


When I discussed with my spouse on she leaving for her studies alone without the kids, the conversation didn’t go well. It did come with many nights of crying, but today she is glad she didn’t travel with them. She for hear am and our pockets too. Also it is not so much of an advantage as long as the kids have their visas approved. My advice would be that you leave them if you have a trusted family member then return to pick them when things are settled. Kids do just fine without you!

Creativebelle:
Wow wow..this is an eye opener..thanks for this..Housing tho..God will help us ooo lol..
Some mothers are going alone with the kids..God will see everyone through.. thank you

throwaway123:


The lord is your strength. How old are these kids?

throwaway123:


The lord is your strength. How old are these kids?

Profgordons:


When I discussed with my spouse on she leaving for her studies alone without the kids, the conversation didn’t go well. It did come with many nights of crying, but today she is glad she didn’t travel with them. She for hear am and our pockets too. Also it is not so much of an advantage as long as the kids have their visas approved. My advice would be that you leave them if you have a trusted family member then return to pick them when things are settled. Kids do just fine without you!

KRTL:
.

KRTL:
What's wrong with my question?
IF you read through you will see where he/she wrote about Government grants,day care subsidy and other sensitive issues...I need to be sure if its not only Applicable to PRs/Citizen as most times Intl student are exempted
I do not think I have asked too much.

throwaway123:


You don't get child care benefits until you have lived for 18months if you are an international student.

All other things apply. But i honestly do not know how you intend to combine studies, payment of fees, child care for the 2 year old while you are in school especially when you are the only one here. Maybe for the 5 year old i can understand. But the 2 year old? Hmm. Guess you would have funds coming in from Naija.

You know your circumstances, so you are a better judge of your situation. I would rather drop the 2 year old till much later maybe after 3 months when you have settled in well. Except you have a family friend you would be staying with here that would help you with the burden in the first few months. You should also check around your school to see what facilities they offer for mothers. Also start looking for child care centers around the school area and start sending emails and enquiries . Not impossible to do but it would be hell of an effort if you pulled this off.

jasperonyx:
I know life happens,but I have decided that by the grace of God, I will not embark on any journey without my husband and kids,adding my husband to this application, brought down my point,but I hold on to God.
I know my strength and my weakness. I rather abandon this than leave any of them behind. God will grant my heart desires

aestake:

If you have to move, move and he tags along after. Again, I heard folks can add their spouses after PPR.

Creativebelle:
Really! How old are the kids?