Moving to a new home is an exciting experience for the entire family. Whether relocating across town or the country, there are a million details to keep track of. The process is both stressful and exhausting.
The moving process is also an unsettling experience, especially for children. After all, they will be leaving behind friends and familiar places.
This is why it’s so important to be aware of how your kids are feeling during the moving process. This article provides tips for helping your children get used to moving.
1. Discuss the Move Ahead of Time
Moving away from the people and places they know is scary for kids. Avoid springing the move on your kids at the last moment.
Take some time to sit down and discuss moving as early in the process as possible. This will allow your kids a chance to process the information, ask questions, collect their thoughts, and come to terms with the emotions involved with this significant life change.
2. Include Kids In the Process
Kids love to be in the middle of the activity. You might think that preparing for a move is for adults only, but including your kids in making decisions will help them feel that their opinions matter and that they are a vital part of the family.
3. Discuss Plans for School and Making New Friends
School and friends are the most significant factors in the life of a child. It’s traumatic to move to a new home and be dropped into an entirely new world.
Explore your new community virtually. Take a tour of the area on Google Maps and point out the new school and neighborhood.
Be encouraging and help them understand that making new friends is fun, and perhaps help them plan ways to introduce themselves to all the new people they will meet.
4. Help Kids Plan Their New Room
It’s also fun to have a new room. Help your kids plan where to put their bedroom furniture, what color to paint the walls, and how to make it feel like their own space.
5. Plan Fun Activities For the Trip
If you have a long drive to your new home, be sure to plan some fun activities to keep your kids occupied. Fun and games along the way will keep them busy and help reduce restlessness.
6. Tour the New Neighborhood When You Arrive
Get to know your new surroundings as soon as possible. Tour the town as a family. Visit their new school, identify some unique places in your new town to explore, and find some fun restaurants to try out. This will help them relax about being in a new home.
Tips For Helping Children Relocate
Relocating is fun and exciting, but it’s also a little intimidating. That’s why it’s so important to use these tips to help your children adjust to the idea of moving.
When you’re ready to move, please feel free to request a quote so that we can help you get started.