Moving to a new home can be stressful for the whole family. Even if you’re swamped with packing and organizing, make sure you help your child be prepared for the relocation.
For children, moving doesn’t only mean they’re leaving the home that they grew up in; it also means leaving friends, neighbors, and familiar places in the community behind. The disruption can cause them lots of stress, mainly because they may not understand the reason behind the move and feel they don’t have a say in it.
During this transition, you can prepare your child for the move by following these tips:
1. Give them lots of time
Before you call professional movers in Salt Lake City, Utah to set a schedule for your moving date, make sure you give your children enough time to digest the idea of relocating and saying goodbye to their old life. An abrupt move can cause even more stress fo your kids and may even put a strain on your relationship.
2. Talk about it
Talking to your children about the move is the best way to prepare them for it. Give them as much information as you can and in a way that they can easily understand. You are most likely going to get protests or negative reactions in response, so be prepared to handle them well. Answer their questions as truthfully as you can, and assure them that they will have your support throughout the entire process.
3. Highlight the positives
Even if moving means leaving their friends, school, classmates, teachers, and community behind, there are still positives to relocating, and it’s crucial that you highlight these upsides to your kids. Involve them in house-hunting and looking for new schools and hangouts. Tell them about new activities that are available in that area. If it is a long-distance move, go on the Internet and show your child as much about the new city as possible.
4. Minimize disruption to their normal routine
Moving during summer vacation may be the best option to not disrupt your child’s schooling, but others say moving before the new school year is the most ideal so that they start the year fresh. Your choice will depend on the circumstances of your move and what schedule is most beneficial for your child.
5. Set up the children’s room first
After the move, set up your kids’ rooms before you move on to the rest of the house. Ask them where they want their furniture to be and if they want their bedroom to look like their old one at home. As much as possible, maintain their routine for eating, playing, and bedtime to provide a sense of familiarity in the new house.
6. Encourage maintaining old friendships, but also making new ones
For school-age children and adolescents, the most difficult part of moving to a new house is leaving their friends or social groups behind. To make the transition easier, encourage your children to maintain contact with their old friends through social media or phone calls. At the same time, encourage them to make friends with the people in their new community.
Moving can be stressful for children as much as it is for the parents. If you plan to move to a new place soon, here are some tips that can make it easier for the whole family.
