Moving can be a life-altering experience for a child. If you are moving out of the area and your children will be attending a new school, the difficulties for children may only be magnified. However, there are plenty of things you can do for your children during the moving process that can turn a stressful event into a time of excitement. Here are some suggestions.
1. Share the news early
Once you have made the decision to move, let your children know and listen to their opinions. While some
kids may be disappointed – especially if you are moving out of the area – they may find some
solace in providing input. Furthermore, the more time your children have to prepare themselves for the
move, the better.
2. Show some excitement
Rather than expressing regret about the decision to move, let your kids know that a new home will be an
exciting opportunity for everyone. Talk about the activities your family can do after moving and the
benefits of their new school. As moving day approaches, you may find that your children are looking
forward to everything from decorating their bedrooms to making new friends.
3. Get the kids involved
As you make the preparations to move, try to get your kids involved in the process. To help your kids
remain focused and happy, work with them to schedule some fun activities before moving out. Find some
local guide books or websites that your children can read and let them serve as tour guides after
moving into the new neighborhood. When packing, it can also be helpful to let children box up and label
their own belongings allowing them to feel more in control of the process.
4. Incorporate some creativity
To help your kids take their minds off the stresses of moving, encourage them to be creative. Younger
children might enjoy painting pictures of your old house to display after you’ve moved. Older
children can keep a journal or scrapbook during moving and have a story to share later. During the moving
process, you could also give your kids jobs – complete with badges and uniforms – to help
them stay involved.
5. Have a party
Prior to leaving your home, throw a party for yourself and your kids. Invite the friends of everyone in
the family and plan some fun, all-ages activities. Afterwards, make sure your kids receive contact
information for everyone they want to stay in contact with.
6. Get acquainted with your new surroundings
Once you have unloaded the truck, try to make the first night in your new home as exciting as possible.
Have fun playing hide-and-seek or a board game before worrying about unpacking and organizing. After you
have settled in, start taking walks or bike rides around the neighborhood. You can introduce yourselves
to the neighbors and the kids might find some new friends.
7. Get back to normal
For the sake of the entire family’s happiness, try not to take too long to resume doing what your
family enjoys. If your family had a custom of bowling every Friday, try to find a bowling alley near your new
home. You may also want to drive through the area and acquaint yourself with the locations of businesses
like grocery stores and restaurants. When Saturday rolls around, try out the pizza parlor you found.
Though moving can be difficult on children of all ages, it can also provide something to look forward to. By keeping your kids involved during every step of the moving process, you will help them feel in control of the situation. After moving into your new home, help them understand that life will be as fun as it always was; it will just take place in a different location. Most importantly, do your best as a family to stay together and have fun along the way.
The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC writes select articles about important topics related to real estate. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit ColdwellBanker.com today.