Spanish Immersion for Your Family: How to Plan for a Year Abroad in Mexico for You and Your Kids

Before you had kids, traveling solo was easy.

That semester abroad in Spain when you were in college. Those trips you used to take with your husband to South East Asia and South America. You’ve got some incredible adventures under your belt. 

Now, with kids in tow, a lot has changed. But not your desire to travel and immerse yourself in the culture and language.

In fact, somewhere in the back of your mind, you’re trying to work out how to take a memorable Spanish immersion trip with the kids before they get too old.

But international travel is definitely more complicated with kids. I mean, there’s school and the mortgage, and you can’t just leave your job.  

That, my friend, is where the family gap year in Mexico comes in. 

Think of it: your family, one year in Mexico, total immersion in Spanish. You pick a city that you can’t wait to discover, wander. You rent an apartment or small home on a shady street close to parks, cafés, and all sorts of cultural inspiration.  

You all spend a year speaking Spanish and the kids pick up the culture as quickly as they pick up the language. You all make friends. And that little corner of Mexico you lived in for a year feels like home.

Yes, it takes planning, but as you’ll learn in this post, a family gap year in Mexico is surprisingly doable. 

First, is a year in Mexico with your family really possible?

Yes! In fact, 1.6 million Americans already live in Mexico, and many of them work remotely.  

These folks already know about the low cost of living, low crime rate (yes compared to many US cities), good, affordable healthcare, the laidback atmosphere, and great food.

But how can you make this work for your family? The first step is to ask yourself if you or your spouse can work remotely. 

Many Americans have found ways to do this without leaving their companies--as many Mexican cities are in the same time zone as cities in the US. 

You may also be (or become) a digital nomad, freelancer, or consultant, in which case, moving to Mexico for six months to a year is easier than you may think.

Remember, the cost of living is lower in Mexico, which may mean that only one parent needs to be working for this to be feasible for your family. 

It’s hard to imagine for many of us, but that lower cost of living also relieves the pressure of having to make dual salaries, leaving the other parent more available to help the children transition to life in a new country.

You could also very possibly rent out your home for a year and fund at least part of your living expenses in Mexico.

If you’re looking for more inspiration from families who have taken a year for travel and immersion, this blog post contains stories of families who have taken all kinds of gap years.   

But as you read the stories of people who have dropped everything to spend a year abroad with their families,  I suggest you do something slightly different from the families you might read about in the above posts:

Plan to stay put for a while.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with taking a year off to travel and see the world - homeschooling the kids and jumping from country to country. But what I’m proposing is a little different.

I want you to plan a different experience for your family—one that’s about complete cultural and language immersion in Mexico. This means staying in one place and building a consistent routine there. Why?

If you ‘just’ travel with your children to different places, they are not going to experience true Spanish immersion the way they would in a school setting. 

Picture yourself settling down in a bustling Spanish-speaking neighborhood, taking your kids to school each day to spend time immersed in Spanish with their classmates and soon-to-be new friends. 

You meet other parents when you drop them off at school and maybe later on a few playdates. School ties you to the community and gives you a bond with the people around you. 

Those ties to the community are especially important if you’ll be working remotely—or not at all. It’s so different from a ‘nomad year,’ when you mostly spend time with your own family and speak English while you see the sites.

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What’s the best age to take kids on a year-long family immersion trip to Mexico? 

In the post, When Is The Right Time To Travel Or Live Abroad With Kids, Financial Samurai points out that kids under three don’t really remember their experiences. So, he suggests spending time abroad between the ages of 3 and 10. 

But I have something to add to that ‘sweet’ spot for living abroad with your kids.

If you want your gap year to bring you and your children the gift of cultural and Spanish immersion, you’ll want to enroll the kids in school—and not just spend a ‘nomad’ or travel year abroad.

I’d like to add that preschool counts as ‘school.’ Imagine having your 3-and-a-half-year-old in 5-6 hours of Spanish Montessori preschool, five days a week for an entire year--at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in the States. 

Why enrolling your kids in school in Mexico is the key to a successful family immersion gap year.

A real immersion experience comes from living in a language. For kids, a school setting plays a significant role in facilitating this.

While at school, your kids hear Spanish all day--and have no choice but to speak it. They will play with Spanish-speaking kids. This natural immersion is much more powerful than just one-hour Spanish lessons twice a week.

In this way, their entire daily lives will be in Spanish.  If you homeschooled them, they would have none of that natural exposure. They would speak and hear mostly English. 

And your children would also experience the Spanish-speaking world through you, not in a way that would allow them to learn faster. 

If you’re enrolling your kids in school with Spanish immersion as a priority, you’ll find that the kindergarten to fifth-grade years--primary school--will be the best time to go.

For middle schoolers and above, a Spanish immersion year is still possible. 

But if you want them to maintain their current level in the US, you will want to consider a bilingual, international, or American school. That way, they won’t have to learn Math in Spanish, for example, and can take an English class, well, in English.

Remember, in middle school, teenagers start filling their social and extracurricular calendars with birthday parties, school dances, sports, etc. It might be much more complex emotionally (on top of academically) to convince them to live abroad for a year and not be miserable.  

And as a parent, it’s a lot easier to get an 8-year-old caught up on 2nd-grade math than it is to get a 13-year-old caught up on pre-algebra!

How to research and choose a school in Mexico.

You’ll want to look into a local private elementary school, bilingual school, or international school.

A school can make or break your child’s experience during your gap year. That’s why I suggest you prioritize schools when you’re choosing a location for your gap year in Mexico--just like you would in the States. 

Here are a few suggestions:

Research educational options fully before you move abroad. 

Understanding the differences between local and international schools will help you choose the best fit for your child’s needs.

Keep your child’s experience with Spanish in mind before you move. 

If your child already speaks some Spanish, consider an all-Spanish school. If your child is just learning Spanish for the first time, consider an American or International school. Even if your child isn’t exposed to Spanish all day, kids around them will speak it and meet local and other international kids. 

Consider the time your children will spend learning in Spanish each week.

Be sure to check with any school you’re considering to see how much time the kids spend in English or Spanish and whether there are Spanish as a Second Language courses.

Be aware that all kids handle the change in languages differently. 

In my experience working with kids in a bilingual setting, some thrive, while others need a bit more encouragement and understanding from the teachers. If you think that may be your child, consider a bilingual school with experience working with kids from different backgrounds.

Plan for tuition and enrollment. 

Of course, you’ll want to reach out to schools you’re considering regarding enrollment policies, requirements, and dates while you’re still in the planning stages. That way, you’ll be all set with a great school before you ever leave home.

Now, it’s time to pick the perfect location for your family immersion year in Mexico.

Once you’ve considered schools, you’re ready to think about where in Mexico you’d like to settle for your gap year. If you’re planning on sending your children to an international or American school, you’ll likely select a larger city like Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Puebla—although there are many more. 

After that, you can think about what parts of Mexico inspire you. Are there places you’ve always wanted to know more about?

As you search, check out this post about the best places in Mexico for your Spanish immersion. It describes some of my favorite places to visit.

Remember, choose a location with your family's interests and needs in mind. Even if you love a spot, it may not be ideal for you if the school there doesn’t accept international students or doesn’t seem like a good fit for your kids.

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For an unforgettable year in Mexico, plan around your kids.

After all, travel with kids is different, incredible, and much more rewarding if you put their needs front and center in the planning stages. Start with this mindset, and you’ll be more likely to consider the kids as you plan. 

Here is a non-exhaustive list of ideas to make your family gap year in Mexico kid-friendly and more rewarding for parents.

Start talking about the gap year early with your children. 

This is your opportunity to manage their expectations and calm any anxieties they might have about being away for an extended period.

Organize a going away or “see you soon” party.

Help kids with the transition in a fun way with a celebration before you leave. Consider gathering contact information for friends so you can keep in touch and share your adventures with them.

Get packing with kids.

That way, they’ll know their favorite belongings will be with them. For a smoother packing experience, consider a visual packing list. 

Keep in touch with friends and family. 

There are so many apps allowing you to just call Meemaw and Papa and the kid’s besties. It’s reassuring and maintains family relationships and friendships. 

You can also create a WhatsApp group and share photos highlighting your experience with friends back home so they feel a part of it. You can even pre-plan visits from folks back home!

Set up kid's bedrooms first in Mexico. 

Cross the threshold, put their bag with their favorite belongings in their room, and add their favorite blanket to their new bed. The homey, safe, reassuring feeling will give them the firm foundation they need to explore and make exciting new connections in your gap year community in Mexico.

Get your kids involved in the local communities. 

You can even plan ahead by looking into what kinds of sports, artistic, and cultural events are available in your new community to get them motivated before they leave.

Be prepared for ups and downs. 

If you’ve ever traveled on your own, you know that culture shock is real. And it’s always harder when it sneaks up on you. Yes, you’ll have unforgettable moments, but prepare yourself (and the kids) for the whole adventure--including the times where you feel tired, lost, or frustrated too. 

Remind yourself and your kids that it’s normal to feel tired and even a little low and uncertain during the transition period when you arrive in Mexico.

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Ready to start planning your trip? Here are a few resources for preparing for your family gap year in Mexico.

If you’ve made it this far into this post (or come back for a second look at this guide), it means you’re really thinking about your trip—maybe even planning it already. That’s so exciting.

If you’re like me (busy!), planning something like extended travel can feel daunting. And yet, so many things that are worth it in life take a little planning, like your wedding, your first trip abroad, your kid’s first day in school--and now your gap year in Mexico. 

This trip is going to be a source of nearly unlimited motivation to learn Spanish. You won’t have to worry about finding time to improve your Spanish either because Spanish will just be a part of your daily life. 

Let’s start with a short list of things to check off your list in the months before you go.

Get Your Visas in Order:

Honestly, it’s pretty easy for Americans to stay in Mexico for a while. Your US Passport alone gives you a 180-day visa upon entering the country. So, essentially, you could plan a trip outside the country 5-6 months in and then get another 180-day visa to round out your 12-month stay. 

Just be honest with immigration. You’re traveling through Mexico with your family for six months (which is not a lie!). 

If you want to look into temporary residency, that will take a bit of advanced planning. When I went through the process in 2016, you would need either a sponsoring family member or company to be granted a temporary residency visa. 

But the laws are always changing, so I would read up on the requirements beforehand and contact a lawyer to help you (I remember it being a difficult process to do on my own). 

Pin Down Your Health Insurance:

Before moving, check to see if your current health plan will cover your care in Mexico and if the plan is accepted in Mexico.

If not, you can find affordable travel insurance or expat health insurance policies to cover emergencies. However, the costs for everyday health care in Mexico are very reasonable and are absolutely something you could pay for out of pocket.

Dentist appointments, routine checkups, medications, and even urgent care at nice hospitals for stomach bugs are super affordable. 

Sort Out Your Housing Early: 

I would definitely find a place to rent before you leave so that you all have a place to land when you arrive with your family. 

At the very minimum, look into family-friendly neighborhoods and close to schools, healthcare facilities, and public transportation.​ 

Here is a great article on finding and renting an apartment in Mexico City. Check it out even if you plan to stay in another location—most of the information is sound no matter where you decide to stay.

Manage Your Finances: 

Of course, you’ll want to set aside some savings as you move to Mexico for the first few months' rent in your new place, tuition at the kids' school (more on that in a bit), and a small emergency fund, just in case. 

But the motivation to spend a year abroad makes saving easier.

If you’re planning to stay in Mexico for a family gap year, I would definitely open at least one bank account there. You’ll need an account to make life simpler and to make in-country transfers (like paying for school tuition). 

Also, making direct bank transfers to people for small things is very normal in Mexico -- another reason to have a Mexican bank account. My husband, who makes regular transfers to his family in Mexico, has a Mexican bank account with Albo, but there are many banks to choose from. 

You can still keep most of your money in your normal US Bank and pull pesos out from any ATM using your US Debit Card.

Takeaways:

I hope that reading this blog post reminded you that you are still the active, curious, and courageous traveler you were before you had kids and that your children deserve to get to know that side of you. 

I hope you’ll re-read and revisit the ideas here to remind yourself that, yes, a gap year for your family in Mexico is entirely doable--and you have everything it takes to give your kids the cultural and language immersion experience of a lifetime.

And if you do end up packing up the family and heading to Mexico for an incredible immersion experience, I definitely want to hear about it.