Moving from the UK to Israel can feel exciting, strange, happy, scary - and sometimes all of those at once.
We created Aliyah for Kids to help children understand what is happening, ask questions, learn about Israel and take part in the family journey.
Designed primarily for children approximately 4-11, with activities parents can adapt for younger or older children.
For parents
Use these activities slowly. They are designed to start conversations, not test children, force enthusiasm or replace qualified support.
The main free download
A professionally designed preparation, activity and colouring book that gives children their own words, questions and place in the move.
My journey from the UK to Israel
Colour - Learn - Talk - Prepare
A child's own Aliyah journey
Each stage names what is happening, makes room for different feelings and offers one small thing to do together.
What's happening?
Your family is talking about moving from the UK to Israel. Nothing has to make sense all at once.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Draw what you think Israel might look, sound or feel like. Add every question you have.
A word to learn
Yisrael - Israel
For grown-ups
Explain what is being considered, what is not decided yet and when you expect to know more.
What's happening?
Grown-ups may be filling in forms, having conversations and finding out what the family needs.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Make a family getting-ready list with one small job you would like to help choose.
A word to learn
Mishpacha - Family
For grown-ups
Include children without making them responsible for application decisions or paperwork.
What's happening?
Some things will travel with you. Other things may be packed, given away or left with someone you trust.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Draw a suitcase and add a comfort item, toy, book and something that feels like home.
A word to learn
Bayit - Home
For grown-ups
Offer a few real choices and protect familiar objects that support comfort and routine.
What's happening?
You may say goodbye to people, school and places you love. Goodbye can also mean see you again.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Choose one goodbye you want: a special day, a card, a photo book or a favourite-place visit.
A word to learn
Lehitraot - See you again
For grown-ups
Give goodbyes time. Do not use a forced celebration to cover sadness or anger.
What's happening?
Today may be busy. You will travel with your family and the grown-ups will look after the important plans.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Use the Travel Day page to draw what you might see and name one thing that could help.
A word to learn
Matos - Aeroplane
For grown-ups
Describe the next one or two steps, keep a comfort item close and leave space for difficult feelings.
What's happening?
You have arrived. There may be new signs, sounds, weather, food and people around you.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Notice three things: one familiar thing, one different thing and one thing you want to ask about.
A word to learn
Shalom - Hello
For grown-ups
Keep the first explanation simple. Arrival is a beginning, not proof that a child has already settled.
What's happening?
Home, school, friends and Hebrew begin to form a new routine. It takes time to know where things belong.
How might I feel?
Let's do something
Draw a new-school day and add who you can ask for help, a Hebrew word and something still difficult.
A word to learn
Beit Sefer - School
For grown-ups
Check in more than once. Siblings can settle at different speeds and both experiences are real.
Hebrew word of the journey
Hebrew can be new without becoming a test. Say the word, connect it to the stage and let children come back to it.
ישראל
Yisrael
Israel
משפחה
Mishpacha
Family
בית
Bayit
Home
להתראות
Lehitraot
See you again
מטוס
Matos
Aeroplane
שלום
Shalom
Hello
בית ספר
Beit Sefer
School
No audio is included: families can use a trusted Hebrew speaker or qualified language resource for pronunciation.
For parents
Aliyah is a big journey for children too. These prompts support honest family conversations without pretending one response or emotion is correct.
Choose a calm moment. Say what is known, what is still being decided and what will happen next. Let the first response be theirs.
Give enough truth to build trust without handing a child adult worries. Short explanations can be repeated as the move becomes more real.
Excitement, sadness, anger, curiosity and relief can sit together. Avoid describing difficult feelings as bad or disloyal.
Offer real, limited choices about a room, comfort item, goodbye or activity. Adults remain responsible for the decision and logistics.
Plan time with important people and places. A goodbye ritual, photo book or future call can make distance easier to understand.
Explain the shape of the first day, what support has been requested and who the child can approach. Avoid promising that school will immediately feel easy.
Say clearly that nobody expects instant Hebrew. Practise simple help phrases and make 'I don't understand yet' safe to say.
Agree realistic ways and times to stay connected. Let children know which relationships adults will help them maintain.
Rebuild familiar anchors such as bedtime, meals, Shabbat, sport, stories and regular contact, while allowing the new routine to develop.
Do not use one child as the settling benchmark for another. Give each child private time to describe what is working and what is hard.
Be honest about school, exams, friendships, Hebrew and social life. Invite meaningful involvement and allow disagreement about the move.
Listen, speak with the child and school, and use suitable health or qualified professional support when needed. This resource does not diagnose or provide therapy.
Conversation starters
Age-specific help
The same move can feel very different to a four-year-old, a primary-school child and a teenager.
Approximately 3-6
Use one page or one idea at a time. Repeat simple truths and show the next concrete event.
Approximately 7-11
Give honest detail, small choices and time to prepare for friendships, school and language.
Approximately 12+
Do not infantilise teenagers. Allow disagreement, discuss trade-offs and link them to the adult journey pages.
Quick printable activities
The full book is the main resource. These one-page downloads are useful when a family only has a few minutes.
A quick plane-and-suitcase activity for a first conversation.
Download A4 PDFA simple home scene with space to imagine a room and neighbourhood.
Download A4 PDFThe official Aliyah.org.uk logo as a strong-outline colouring sheet.
Download A4 PDFColouring competition
The family resources come first. No child entry route is active and no draft terms are shown publicly. If a competition is launched later, the legal promoter, dates, prize, final terms and privacy route must be confirmed first, and entry will be controlled by a parent or legal guardian.
Start together
You can be excited about Israel and sad about leaving people and places you love. There is no single right way to feel about moving.
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