Moving to a new place can be an exciting yet stressful experience but it is doubly so when you’re moving with kids. It’s an entirely different experience when you’re moving with those little creatures. They can be unpredictable and vulnerable.
Announcing the move to the kids, planning the move, and getting them involved in the entire process can be very challenging. Whether you’re moving to a new city or across the country, your kids aren’t always excited about such a milestone. Children, especially school-age and teenagers, are afraid of change. They are anxious about the unknown and unfamiliar – and relocating to a new place means going to some unknown territory. This can surely make them feel afraid.
Some kids just don’t want to leave their friends or their school or their room. This is especially true if they’ve grown up in that place and have become too attached to it. It’s like cutting a part of their person, and this is something that is not easy to handle.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to ease the anxiety that they’re going through.
1. Keep a positive attitude
Foremost is your attitude about the relocation. If you are unsure or dismissive, your kids would surely pick up and share your emotions. You have to show them that the move is something positive and exciting. This will influence their feelings and willingness to accept the move and participate in the process.
2. Set a family meeting
Gather the entire family and tell them the news. It is best to prepare snacks to keep the conversation casual and lively. Tell them when and where you’re moving. Tell the reason behind the move, perhaps it’s because of a promotion or a change in work assignment. Let the kids feel that you are happy and excited about the move. Likewise, allow them to share their feelings, so you can help them process whatever they’re going through.
3. Show your kids the new home
If you’re moving nearby, take your kids to the new place. If you have older kids, you can involve them in selecting the new home. Get some feedback from your kids like what rooms they want or color or theme. If you’re moving across the country, take them on a virtual tour to the new city or show some pictures of the house. They would love to know what things they can do in the neighborhood. Make them feel that they are part of the entire process.
4. De-clutter and dispose of unnecessary stuff
According to a professional mover at Torex Moving, when you’re moving with kids, you want to keep the number of boxes to the minimum. Chances are you have a plethora of items that you might not need in your new home. Let your kids help you go through their stuff and identify the ones they don’t use anymore. Better yet, you can organize a yard sale wherein the proceeds from the activity go to them. This should help you reduce clutter faster and more exciting.
5. Get your kids to help
If you’re moving with school-age or teenagers, you should keep them involved throughout the entire experience. Depending on the age of the child, you can assign simple tasks such as boxing their toys, helping carry boxes, or cleaning the new home. By involving them in the move, they will feel that it’s also their move.
6. Book a moving company
Professional movers can help you with labor-intensive chores such as lifting, transferring, boxing, and loading/unloading your valuables. Let the movers do the manual labor while you focus on your kids and keep them safe. It’s important never to leave your kids unattended as they might get into some accident or mishaps. Alternatively, you can hire a babysitter for the day so you’re sure the kids are okay.
7. Be creative
Encourage your kids to help by having a few surprises or some creative gimmicks. For example, you can let the kids paint their moving boxes. Get your kids to explore and enjoy the new place by printing off a scavenger hunt. Surprise them with a new toy or a visit to their favorite park. These activities can help keep their morale up.
8. Host a “See-You-Soon” Party
Kids won’t likely want to say goodbye to their friends. Instead of hosting a farewell party, make it a “see-you-again” party so that they would feel less anxious. This should help your children understand that moving into a new place doesn’t mean they’ll have to leave their friends for good. You’re just changing address but not saying goodbyes.
