Ways to make changing homes and moving easier for the kids
Changing homes is always stressful for the whole family but nobody hates moving more than children – the idea of leaving their neighborhood playmates for some new strange place is not really the most exciting idea for them.
So here are six tips on how to make landing in the new nest as gentle as possible for your brood.
Don’t worry, be happy
Moving is a time of uncertainty, and during a time of uncertainty, kids look to their parents for clues as to how they are supposed to feel. So if you show that you are excited about moving, they will mostly likely get bitten by the bug and become excited about it too.
Talk it out
Gather as a family, find out from your kids the questions and fears they have about the upcoming move and then address each and every one of them thoroughly, clearly and honestly.
Keep the routine
Maintain those treasured family routines that you have built together over time be it Wednesday night pizza, Saturday afternoon Monopoly or ice cream on Sundays. This will give the children a sense of continuity during this unsettled time.
Make the new familiar
Take your kids on a tour of the new home if possible. Let them see their future bedroom in person so that they can accustom themselves to the new environment. You can even let them pick out the color they would like to have their room painted.
Make a map
Once you move, have the younger kids make a simple map of where everything is located — home, school, soccer fields, parks etc — so that they feel more at home in the new neighborhood.
Get them active
Once you are done moving, enroll them in a class or club that is of interest to them, be it karate, ballet or swimming. The point is to immerse them in an activity in which they can meet other kids and make new friends. It will also keep them occupied and hence thinking less about the old place.