Bodrum for Children: Raising a Family on the Peninsula

As Turkey's original tourist destination, Bodrum is famous for its natural and cultural attractions. More recently, however, Bodrum has become a top destination for families attracted by the peninsula's sun, culture and cuisine.

But what is it like to live with kids in Bodrum?

What are the pros and cons?

We asked a family who moved to Bodrum about their experience.

The Moores moved from Cardiff to Bodrum in 2013 and bought a beautiful family villa on the Bodrum peninsula. But with two kids under the age of eight, they were worried about what they might find. Derryn Moore briefs us on what she's learned since those dizzying new days in a new country.

Schools in Bodrum

Education is one of the things that draws us to Turkey. We want something more holistic for our children and the schools here are excellent and more child-centred than the goal-centred schools in the UK. Both children attend Marmara School on the outskirts of Ortakent. Marmara offers education in a wide range of academic subjects and extracurricular activities from kindergarten through university. Another option is the TED School in Ortakent. TED is a group of private schools founded in 1928 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Since Turkish children do not start primary school until they are seven years old, their two children are more likely to go to school than the locals, so they can adapt to the new system quickly. Going to school in Turkey allows her children to experience different cultures up close, she said. Her classes include children from Sweden, Argentina, Singapore, China, Russia and Europe. The school embraces different cultures.

Bilingual Children's Education in Turkey

Several studies have shown various benefits of bilingual learning for children, including better academic performance, concentration and multitasking; improved communication skills; increased self-esteem and self-confidence, and better career opportunities later in life.

It's true what they say about young children and learning another language. They're like little sponges; they absorb everything so fast. At first, Dereen worried that the language barrier would prevent her children from making friends, but those worries were unfounded. They have lots of friends and play well together, talking in a mix of English and Turkish.

Derryn works to encourage bilingualism at home by organizing playtime with Turkish speakers, reading Turkish storybooks and listening to Turkish children's songs. We work hard, but the kids have started learning Turkish so well that they can now translate for me when we go out, which is a bit awkward, but good motivation to learn Turkish.

Outdoor Lifestyle in Bodrum

At home, playing outside was the norm for kids in the 70s. We come from a fairly dense area so the kids can't play outside. Life in Bodrum is different. All the slow aspects of life remind me of my childhood. We live on a small estate and the kids play outside together after school. Neighbors take care, the sun helps too. It only rains 2 months of the year so the kids play outside every day. Sometimes they are only in it when they are sleeping.

There are also opportunities to try new outdoor hobbies. When we arrived, my oldest son was 6 years old and joined the school's sailing club. He goes out to sea twice a week on a small Optimist sailboat. For the kids there is a large sailing scene with lots of competitions and activities. He loves all things water based and hopes to start kitesurfing next year. We're also planning on getting a yacht for our family vacation - we don't have a sailing background but we can learn together.

Spend more time with family and friends

Derryn works from home while her husband runs the house and attends school after get off work. We can easily live on my salary here. We have more time for each other and more time for the things we love. Everything is nearby; ten minutes to school, no traffic, no stress. When the kids come home from school for a swim and afternoon tea, the family usually goes to the beach together. Like someone saying stop it, putting the brakes on our lives and forcing us to relax and enjoy each other's company.

Better Nutrition and Health in Turkey

Derryn said she was alarmed by news of the obesity epidemic, especially the increase in childhood obesity. But in Turkey, they have the opportunity to eat better. The veggies here are amazing and we often make a simple tomato and olive oil salad that the kids love. Imported goods are expensive, so the family eats seasonal food like the local Turks. This way of eating is cheaper, fresher, tastier and more environmentally friendly. The local weekly market is a great place to buy fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals and bread. My husband usually goes; he's now a regular there and returns with local gossip.

Cons of living in Bodrum

It's hard living away from our extended family. They come to visit, but it's not the same. So we return to Cardiff whenever we can. Our parents love life in Turkey. They wanted to retire to Turkey after seeing our way of life in Bodrum. It took longer than expected to make friends with the locals, Derian said. There are a lot of great expat families out there, but it's a lot more complicated to decipher Turks. It took us about a year to make friends. But we've worked hard to be part of the community and now have some wonderful, generous and warm Turkish friends. Derryn recommends learning Turkish before moving to Bodrum to help with assimilation.

More About Bodrum Peninsula, Turkey

About Yalikavak: Over the past decade, Yalikavak has become one of the most popular places to live in Bodrum. From a small fishing village to an immigrant town to a global yachting hub, the Yalikavak house is now one of the most prestigious in Turkey. This travel guide details the city of Bodrum and why people flock to it.
Jumusluk, Bodrum: Jumusluk is a quiet town on the Bodrum peninsula known for its traditional architecture and seaside restaurants. Although Gumusluk remains largely off the grid in terms of mainstream tourism and expat life, expats enjoy peace and quiet.

Bodrum Property: If you're thinking of moving to Bodrum and want to buy property, take a look at our portfolio of apartments and villas for sale in all areas of the peninsula. Each listing has everything you need to know including price, location, home features and contact details to learn more or arrange a viewing. Alternatively, you can visit our office in the capital city of Bodrum near the marina and speak to one of our agents about moving to Bodrum, Turkey.