Iceland is a family-friendly place to live

We know moving to another country is challenging—and a bit stressful—but there are many opportunities for those who make Iceland home. If there is one unifying characteristic of Icelanders, they prioritize a healthy life-work balance that is family-centric. Perhaps this is not a huge surprise given the island's population of 360,000 and the almost algorithmic way Icelanders can connect!

In July 2020, the family and travel resource website Asher & Lyric collected statistics from 30 trusted international sources to create their in-depth Raising a Family Index. The index collates data from 35 OECD countries, and not surprisingly (to us anyway), Iceland ranks #1. Asher & Lyric do a fantastic job breaking the data down in a graphically clear way. 

Swimming lessons are part of the curriculum for ages 6-15 in Icelandic schools

Thoughts about schooling are probably at the top of your list for those who move to Iceland with children. Icelandic schools tend to be small (by many standards) and situated in neighborhoods where younger children (6-16) can walk without crossing major roads. There are no yellow school buses in Iceland! 

While immersing young children in Icelandic schools can be a tough transition language-wise, they adjust reasonably quickly. There are many benefits of going to the local school, such as the leisure grants, after-school programs, sports, and music activities.

Extracurricular activities are often subsidized for children aged 5/6-18 (starting on 1 January) with leisure grants (frístundastyrkur). Grants are on a municipal level. You are required to apply for activities in the same city or town as your registered domicile. Municipalities decide which activities are subsidized and the total support per child. To apply for these grants, you must have access to the municipality's electronic system, which requires both an ID number (kennitala) and an electronic ID.

Reykjavik (6-18).

Kópavogur (5-18).

Hafnarfjörður (6-18) – information in Icelandic.

Mosfellsbær– information in Icelandic.

Seltjarnarnes – information in Icelandic.

Akureyri – information in Icelandic.

Selfoss

Egilsstaðir

Garðabær

There are a few school options for those who are more comfortable with English curriculum. These schools accommodate a range of ages and teaching methods and are located in the Reykjavík area:

There are many excellent music schools in Iceland. Children can learn to play various instruments both traditionally and by the Suzuki method. Here you can explore Music Schools in Iceland and find one that suits your needs best. Classes are not just for the youth! 

Joining a choir is a great way to meet Icelanders. There are over 300 choirs across Iceland. Here is a partial list from the Association of Icelandic Choir Directors (in Icelandic). Singing is a great way to learn Icelandic and the often dramatic stories behind the songs. Here is an informal list of all the music unions and associations in Iceland.

Afterschool sports are popular in Iceland and are through local or municipal clubs. Even small towns often have their recreation center with football (soccer) fields, swimming pools, and indoor facilities. Twenty years ago, Iceland began to emphasize sports as a measure to lower teen alcohol and smoking rates. The effort was a wildly successful program—still in effect—that emphasizes curfews and encourages families to eat together and plan evening and weekend activities. 

There are plenty of sports options to choose from. Speak to your local club or the school your children go to for more information. Icelanders are particularly fond of soccer, handball, and basketball. The traditional Icelandic sport is wrestling (glíma), but martial arts such as taekwondo, judo, and karate are also popular. There are gymnastics, ice skating, skiing, and even bowling on offer! Crossfit is increasingly popular in Iceland, with many Icelanders placing exceptionally well in world championships. Dance lessons are also available, with ballet and contemporary dance being the most common, but Kramhúsið offers many exciting options. 

Depending on your income, you may be entitled to child benefits. You can find the rules regarding child benefits, such as the maximum annual income and exact amounts at the Directorate of Internal Revenue. You can calculate this sum with your actual salary.

Since the calculator is only available in Icelandic, here are some translations to help you: 

Certain activities are very popular with Icelandic families. Here are a few of them.

Throughout neighborhoods, you will find playgrounds designed for children of all ages. Playgrounds are often next to schools and kindergartens and are available when school is not in session. Icelanders encourage their children to play outside in all weather. As Icelanders like to say, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." 

A list of playgrounds in Reykjavik

You will find outdoor geothermal heated swimming pools in every town and community in Iceland.

It would be a tougher place to live in if not for Iceland's geothermal waters! One of the best aspects of living in Iceland is the sublime swimming pools. The pools (almost all of them) are heated with geothermal water and provide year-round swimming. Most neighborhoods have a swimming pool (or pools) with hot pots (heitir pottar) for soaking (and gossiping), water slides, and water play zones for children.  

Here is a list of swimming pools in Iceland's most populous areas:

Reykjavik or download Visit Reykjavik's pool map 

Kópavogur

Hafnarfjörður

Mosfellsbær

Garðabær

Akureyri

Egilsstaðir

Swimming lessons & Ungbarnasund: Swimming lessons are part of the school curriculum for ages 6-16, with many schools having a pool. Private swim lessons and infant swim lessons (ungbarnasund in Icelandic) are popular too—many start at 3-4 months old! Here is a list of a few private swimming instructors for baby swimming, children, and even adult lessons. 

Ungbarnasund Snorra

Sundskoli

Ungbarnasund Erlu

Ungbarnasund Hrundar

Sundfélagið Ægir

Natural pools: If you are more interested in natural hot springs or pools or spas, here you can find an alternative list. The directory is in Icelandic, but you can choose the natural pools' names to find a link to their website. You will likely need a car to reach many of them, and some areas are only reachable in the summertime or with a jeep.

Libraries often have designated play areas for children and books and magazines in many languages. Many also host meetings and events for adults and children. Check your local library for their schedule. View a list of public libraries.

Hiking is a very popular acrivity in Iceland, both in summer and winter.

With so many mountains close by, hiking is a favorite activity. Nearby Reykjavik, there are many ideal spots for a picnic and easy walks such as Laugardalur, Elliðaárdalur, and Heiðmörk. There are frisbee golf courses throughout Iceland, with many in the capital area. For a list of green spaces in Reykjavik, please visit Reykjavik.is. It is safe to say that nature is never far away, no matter where you are in Iceland. 

Ferðafélag Íslands operates free hikes for children that often incorporate outdoor educational activities such as plant and tree identification, finding edible fruits and mushrooms, and identifying birds.

This is an Icelandic must-see. Húsdýragarðurinn is a small and friendly collection of Icelandic farm animals, rescued seals, and other native animals undergoing rehabilitation. There are no tigers or elephants, but children often enjoy spending the day here. There is an excellent playground with loads of activities, including a pirate ship, a giant sandbox with mechanical buckets and waterways, and various play areas and seasonal attractions. There are also amusement rides that require paid tickets, a multi-day pass, or a season's pass.

Just about everyone has fed the ducks and geese downtown at Tjörnin. Remember not to feed them bread, but rather oats, seeds, or lettuce. Great place for bird (and people) watching!