Moving home can be a stressful time. We are often so caught up in the legality and pressure of it all that we forget it can be hard on the kids too. Kids do not handle change as well as adults because they like the security of knowing their home and school well. However, there are certain things you can do to make the transition of moving home a lot smoother for your kids. Here are some ideas.
Don’t Tell Them Until You Know
As soon as a child knows things are changing, the anxiety may start to creep in. There is no point in worrying your child if things are not certain yet. There are many reasons people choose to move. Perhaps you are looking for a bigger home or maybe you are being forced to move because of a new job or finances. Only tell your child that you are going to have to move when the decision is final.
Get Them Involved
Once you know for sure that you are going to be moving, it is time to sit the kids down and have a conversation. Give them all the information you have, like why you are moving and where you will be going. They need to be prepared for how much will change. Once they know this, you can start trying to get them to be enthusiastic about it. For example, you could take them along to house viewings and ask them to imagine how the family could use the space. Once you have found a house you like, your children could start planning how to decorate their bedrooms.
Go Easy with Toddlers
Toddlers will not fully understand what is going on, so you may have to explain things as questions arise. It is also important that you do not throw away anything that may make them feel secure or comfortable, like toys or blankets. Although they may not show it, moving is a big event in a toddler’s life. That being said, you may not want to make any other big changes will the move is going on, like potty training.
Make Them Responsible
If there are certain items that you know your children love and you do not want to risk losing, make a small box for each of your children to be responsible for. When moving day comes, they need to look after that box. You can use it to store items that you may not feel are safe with movers.
Moving Schools
Moving schools can be very difficult for children, especially if they have built close friendships in their current schools. However, children are very resilient and they will make new friends quickly. To ease the transition, you may want to arrange a tour of the school prior to moving and leave moving until the summer months, if possible. This ensures your child starts school in the new term, in a new class along with everyone else. Here’s some advice from other parents on how to successfully move your child to a different school.
It may seem like a difficult thing to do at first, but remember, it takes time to settle into a new home for children and adults.
