Moving is never an easy task for anyone. There are so many things to do and keep track of that there’s no time to really take a break and relax. But however stressful you feel it is for you, it’s a whole different kind of stress for your children. While you might see a move as a necessity and even something to look forward to, your child is worried about leaving behind their home, their school, their friends, and the comfort of familiarity. This is especially true if it’s the first time they are moving; leaving the only home they’ve ever know can be incredibly stressful for young children.
Taking the time and precautions to meet your children’s emotional needs during the chaos of a move is extremely important for making the move a positive experience for them. Here are some ways you can make the transition easier.
Make Your Kids a Part of the Process
If you are at the stage of considering moving to a new place, get your kids involved right from the start. Start by informing them of the reasons why you are thinking of moving and address any questions or concerns they might have. As they are bound to have many reservations, make sure to make a list of positives that directly affect them as individuals, such as getting their own room, a bigger back yard for them to play in, or local clubs and youth sports they can get involved with.
By informing your kids early on, you can make them a part of all the research and decision-making processes when it comes to checking out the new location or choosing a house. Some guides argue that you should find a babysitter during this time, but by involving the kids in the process, they feel included and can get used to the changes gradually as things are decided.
Make a Moving Checklist
No matter what, moving is stressful, but it can be made less stressful for everyone if you are ultra-organized about it. Making a checklist of everything you need to do, from the time you make the decision to the actual moving day, is important for the whole family to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
While most of the items on your list will be things your kids won’t know anything about — like finishing up paperwork, changing utilities, and hiring a moving company — there are a couple of things things that should top your list in relation to how they affect your kids. The first of these is preparing for your children’s schooling. Changing schools is stressful enough without first-day-of-school problems that could have been avoided with proper preparation. You will want to check out the schools in the area you will be living in for their ratings and reputations. Requesting a tour for you and your kids is a perfect way to expose your kids to their new learning environments and meet their new teachers, so that their first days aren’t a complete shock of new experiences. Be sure to get all the proper documentations you need from both the old school and new school, such as transcripts, registration papers, and anything else the schools suggest or require.
The second is making sure that all of your children’s items are accounted for during the move. Big moves are notorious for losing items in the chaos, but you don’t want to lose anything that your children cherish. Since they probably already have anxiety about the move, losing their items can be an extra blow to an already stressful situation for them. Take note of all of their boxes and the items that go in them, and account for them when you have moved into the new place. It may seem like extra work for you, but it will make the transition that much easier for your children.
Get to Know Your New Neighborhood
Unfamiliar areas can be scary for children in general, so your move to a new neighborhood, whether it’s across town or across the country, is going to be unsettling for them. Taking the time to get to know the neighborhood once you are all settled in will help ease any anxieties your children have about their new environment. The best way to do this is to take daily family walks around your neighborhood to give your kids the chance to become familiar with the area. Go in different directions each day, and search for landmarks and parks around the area.
Also important is to get to know your new neighbors. Meeting your neighbors is a good way for you to not only get involved in your new neighborhood, but to help your kids (and you!) find new friends around their age to spend time with. Walking around your neighborhood and spending time outside in the area is the easiest way to meet your neighbors as you are likely to come across people while out and about. If you are someone who likes to take initiative, you can go door-to-door to introduce yourself and your family, or hold a barbeque at your place and invite your neighbors.
Moving is chaotic and stressful, and you kids are going to have reservations about it. But if you take the time to be extra organized and conscious to the emotional needs of your children, you can still make it a positive experience for them.
