Making the Big Move Easier
Making a move is hard work, no matter the distance. Between accepting a new job, selling your home, buying a new one, hiring moving companies and packing up your life, it’s easy to forget to take your kids’ feelings into consideration.
Your kids probably don’t share the same comprehensive view of the move, and may instead only be able to focus on the present. Kids at different age levels will deal with the move differently. Check out these few tips to learn what you can do to make the process easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Preparation
Regardless of your kids’ ages, preparation is the first step towards helping them understand the process. Organize a family meeting to have an opportunity to sit down and discuss the move with your kids well before actual moving prep begins. Explain to your kids why this move is a good decision for the family. Give them plenty of time to voice their concerns, and plan another meeting to follow-up with your kids and keep them updated on the process.
Let your older kids tag along on the house hunt if possible and take their feedback into consideration. Uprooting is hard for kids to do, and being able to look forward to their new home will give them much needed stability. Let your older kids also have a going away party to say goodbye to their old friends, and don’t hesitate to give each older child their own party.
Give younger kids plenty of time to part ways with the old house. Even if it seems silly to you, let kids draw pictures of the old house, say goodbye to each room on moving day.
Helping Out and Keeping them Entertained
Older kids can help out by packing their own rooms, or other parts of the house depending on their age. Teens can help with the actual move if they’d like, or keep younger siblings entertained. If your kids are very young, you should arrange for a babysitter, friend or family member to keep them busy on moving day. Before the move, you can let them pack away their favorite toys and show them how the boxes will be packed away by movers. Set aside a special bag with their favorite toys or games that they can keep close during the move.
Settling In
The process of settling in can take longer for kids than you may think. Once you arrive at your new house, get your kids rooms settled quickly. Helping then unpack right off the bat will ease their transition. You can also have some sort of welcome ceremony or dedication for the new house. A special dinner, family photograph, or game night can help your kids feel more excited about the move.
Give kids plenty of time to explore the neighborhood, ease into their new school and make friends. Go the extra mile to help your kids connect with their new lifestyle, even if that means doing more things as a family, having more social events or being creative about discovering the city. A checklist is a fun way to keep communication lines open and settle into a new life. You can make a list of things like: try at least four new restaurants, check out the mall, visit the park or find new hang out spots.
With proper preparation, involvement and communication, the moving and settling process can be a joyous one for your family.
By Contributing Author Nan Gibbons of Eat Breathe Blog
