Moving is always difficult, but moving with kids can be even more challenging.
After all, you have plenty on your plate: you must create a plan and organise everything around the relocation. You also must decide where you want to live, what needs to be packed (and what needs to be sold, donated, or thrown away), whether you want to ship your car for convenience, and which company you’re going to hire to help you with the relocation process.
However, one of the most important things you’ll think about during this time is how to make the moving process easier for your children.
Below, we’ll explore the most useful tips on making the move a much smoother process for your kids and the entire family.
Communicate with your kids
Moving is a very stressful life event for anyone, let alone for children. However, knowing what to expect is usually crucial to managing the stress. If you decide to move your family, it’s essential to have a talk with your children early on in the process. That way, they will avoid feeling blindsided and will have a much easier time taking in the news.
Overall, the more time they have to prepare mentally, the more likely they will adjust easier when the time comes. Be sure to leave out any unnecessary or stressful information that may burden the child.
Get the kids involved
Let them in on the process. Involving your children in the moving process will help them feel more included and less overwhelmed by the idea of moving. You should give them appropriate tasks for their ages, letting them know their opinion matters. You can visit prefab multifamily together to make familiar with their new home.
When it comes to deciding which house to move into, ask for their thoughts. Perhaps they have a favourite colour? Finally, let them help organise a garage sale to sell old things or decorate their new bedroom.
Be excited together
Kids are intuitive, so you need to keep your feelings about moving under a steel-wrapped hat. Don’t show any negativity or dwell on worries or stress.
Speak with excitement about the new home, the beautiful neighbourhood, and the wonderful school. Mention new places that they can explore, such as the local water park or playgrounds.
Visit your new neighbourhood
It can be a challenge for children to adjust to a move, but you can do a few things to make it easier for them.
For example, you could visit your new neighbourhood beforehand. Not everyone can do this, but if you can, try visiting parks, restaurants or theatres in your new area. Any potential places of interest for your kids will be a great addition to that list.
In the process, you’ll create positive memories that will help your children adjust as they grow up.
Declutter
Moving house is an excellent opportunity to down-change and declutter your home.
When packing the kids’ things, make sure to go through their belongings with them so they can contribute to the decision-making process. Giving to charity stores is a great way to teach them about recycling and giving back to society.
Have a farewell party
This tip could be vital for kids struggling to say goodbye to their classmates and teachers. Organising a goodbye party to say goodbye to everyone properly can be a great way to close that chapter and prepare for the next one.
If you’re moving to the same city, you might do a housewarming party at your new house or, even better–a family camping trip. This is a great way to settle into a new place and celebrate with friends and family.
Keep the routine
Moving means many new things, but remaining consistent can help the kids ease some of their anxieties about the move.
Keeping a routine for children, like having meals at the same time and going for a family walk every Saturday, is especially important because it will help them adapt to their new home. Kids will also feel more comfortable if they have some familiar items to unpack first.
Bringing up sentimental items like pictures or teddy bears can help kids feel at home in their new place.
Keep up with friends
Friendships are vital for a healthy emotional life and development. They’re fundamental to adults and kids alike and something that kids – particularly teens – worry about a lot.
It can be challenging to make new friends, especially if you relocate often, so you must keep that in mind. Social media and video chat can help them stay connected with their old friends.
To help children cope with making new friends, encourage them to join clubs or activities they enjoy doing. The sooner your kids feel included in their new social environment, the better!
Special moving day bag
As you are preparing to move, take special care of the kids. If you only have a few days before the professional movers arrive, pack their favourite items in a ‘moving day bag’. This way, their items won’t get lost in all the chaos.
A plush toy or a nightlight may be essential for them to feel comforted and safe during this time. You might also want to include something special they can enjoy on a moving day, like a new colouring book or portable game console.
Conclusion
We hope you found some practical ideas in the article on how to make the entire transition easier for your kids.
Remember, it’s essential to make your children feel part of the process, as well as ensure they meet new friends, keep their old friendships alive, and have something good to look forward to.
In the end, moving is a stressful process, so don’t forget to book professional movers, man and van, and a storage unit well in advance to help minimise moving anxiety. Your kids will feel much more relaxed moving if you do so as well, and nothing accomplishes this as much as having someone you can trust to help you with everything.
Preparing Your Kids For A Move was provided by Dearman Moving & Storage, your first choice for local portable storage containers
