The process of moving can be exciting for adult people, while for kids it will be quite challenging to deal with this experience. For them, moving usually means leaving the comfort zone of their room, neighborhood, school, friends and all other routines.
Children will feel much better and easier about moving if parents would involve them into this process and give enough time to comprehend everything. Kids don’t have to know everything about the moving process, but they have to feel that their questions and feelings are considered.
Some preparations will help a lot to avoid unnecessary stress. Instead of moving being done to the kid, make him a part of this process. Give him some freedom of choice, let him feel comfortable and know what to expect from moving day.
Talk to Your Children About the Move Early
It is always better to let them know about the move before you even start with packing. It is not a good idea to leave it till the very last moment and surprise your kids with information that you are going somewhere else.
Tell them why you are relocating in a way they can understand. Depending on the age, your child may want to hear a simple explanation or more detailed information regarding his school, friends and other things.
Do not complicate the story but at the same time be sincere and open. Explain to them everything that will change and what will not. You can say that their favorite toys and things will come with them to the new house and they will have their own place there.
If you give your children some time to prepare psychologically, then moving will be much easier for them.
Let Children Be Part of the Packing Process
Of course, moving all the contents of your home is not easy, but getting kids to assist in a few minor tasks will make them feel a bit better about the whole idea of moving. They don’t have to pack and carry heavy boxes or delicate items. Let them do what suits them and is suitable for their age.
For older kids, sorting out books, clothes, toys, and school things can be an assignment they would enjoy doing. Smaller children can participate in choosing toys for their personal bag and planning their room arrangement.
Such participation will give children a feeling of being able to control something amid all the changes in their life. Even choosing which toys should be packed first can do a trick.
Let adult people or packers do the job with fragile and valuable possessions.
Let Them Choose What Goes in Their Personal Bag
Each kid needs a small bag that they will use during moving day. Rather than placing all items in the moving van, let them select a few familiar items that they will carry.
Such things can include a favorite book, a toy, some headphones, clothing, snacks, drinks, and many other familiar things that you think might be useful during the process.
For smaller kids, it might be comforting for them to have something that is familiar in a completely unfamiliar setting. As for older kids, they might need their books, toys, games, electronic gadgets, and so forth.
It is important to give them a couple of familiar things during the moving process rather than wait until everything is unpacked.
Keep Their Daily Routine as Normal as Possible
Children may have better feelings if they find their normal schedule consistent. The move will affect the child’s regular schedule in terms of schools, meal times, sleep times, and other related activities. Try to make your kid feel more consistent before moving.
Do not change any schedule in relation to food and bed time before the move. Make sure that all activities of your kid such as schooling go on normally until the day of move.
Once you arrive at your new place, you should try to establish regular schedule for yourself and your kids. Consistent meal times, regular sleeping schedule, and other related activities will help them to adapt themselves to their new environment.
It is not necessary that everything should be perfect.
Prepare Children for Moving Day
Moving day can be hectic and noisy, with strange faces here and there, furniture being moved around, many boxes and lots of openings and closings of doors. It may all seem too much for young kids.
Tell them what is going to happen when the movers come. Explain that they would see people packing and carrying around their home stuff and their stuff may also be put inside the boxes for a while.
Have a trusted relative or friend take care of your younger kids during the most hectic time in the move so that they stay away from the heavy furniture and boxes and other moving stuff and give you the freedom to supervise the whole process of the move.
Your older kids can be more interested in being a part of the moving process but still must be kept out of places where the heavy stuff is being loaded and unloaded.
Prepare a Child-Friendly Travel Kit
In case you are traveling to your new place of residence, especially on a long trip, consider packing a special travel bag for your kids. The things that should be included in this bag will vary depending on the age of the children and how far you are going.
The bag should contain food, drinks, a change of clothes, toiletries, entertainment, and anything else your kids require. In case of young kids, their favorite toys and books can go along too. In case of older kids, it will be great to pack some books, games, music or anything else that can keep them entertained.
Make sure you have the bag easily accessible since you do not want to go through hundreds of boxes trying to find something that your kid needs.
Talk About the New Home Positively
Since kids tend to concentrate on what they’re leaving, help them discover new things they can look forward to. Share information about their new room, surrounding parks or interesting places, or fun things to do.
Show them pictures of the new place if you can. Preferably, take your children there to see the property in advance so that the environment doesn’t seem completely unfamiliar to them.
It’s important not to make false promises trying to comfort your kids. Instead, highlight the truly positive moments regarding the move and mention that feeling nostalgia about the old house is absolutely natural.
Your aim isn’t to persuade kids that everything will be perfect. The idea is to help your children realize that it’s fine to feel sorry for leaving somewhere and get excited about new things ahead.
Help Children Say Goodbye
Saying goodbye from a known place is an emotional experience, especially for kids who carry many memories from there. Give them the chance to bid farewell instead of quickly moving away.
They might want to take pictures, say goodbye to neighbors, go somewhere near to them, or simply sit in their room for a while before leaving.
Older kids will need to say goodbye to their friends. Ask them to exchange numbers or other means of communication with their closest friends.
Allowing children to say goodbye gives them closure.
Set Up Your Child’s Room First
Once you reach the new home, one of the most important steps to take is setting up your child’s bedroom as early as possible. You don’t have to move in everything right away; having his bed, clothes, favorite toys, books, and familiar items will make him feel comfortable in the new environment.
You could try setting up his room in a similar way as his old one. Try to place some of the furniture and decorations he used to see in a similar way so that the room looks more familiar to him when he sees it for the first time.
Allow your child to participate in the process of setting up the room. He might like choosing the location where his books should be kept or some of the favorite toys.
Help Them Adjust to a New School
In the event that the transition involves moving to a new school, then your child might require more attention. Attending to a new school may be difficult for them because they will have to get used to a new environment, new classmates, and even new teachers.
Prior to their first day, make them know what to expect. It would be better if you take your child to the school so that they can get used to the environment.
They should not be pressured to make good friends right away or fit in perfectly. Not all children will adapt well to their new environment.
Be inquisitive about how they are finding their experience in the school and allow them to voice out any concerns that they might have. Sometimes just talking to them is enough.
Help Children Make New Friends
One of the most significant worries kids may have regarding relocation involves leaving their friends behind. Despite being excited about the new house, they might miss their friends from their old neighbourhood.
Make sure they take part in age-appropriate events during which they will be able to get acquainted with other kids. These can be related to sports, drawing classes, literature, school events, community life, etc., depending on their interests.
Don’t force them to make friends at once; they will have to spend some time to do this since not all kids feel equally comfortable about meeting strangers.
On the other hand, assist them in preserving contacts with their friends. Making them call, message, or visit their friends will assure them that relocation doesn’t mean they must forget all the people they were close to.
Maintain Familiar Family Traditions
A change of location will mean changing the environment, but it is not necessary for everything else to change. Preserving the family traditions will provide continuity.
In case you have any traditions in your family, such as movie night, breakfast on Saturday mornings, or even a game night, don’t abandon them when you move.
It is also possible to establish some new traditions based on the new environment. You may want to have a special family meal after all of the things are unpacked, or you may explore a nearby park during your first weekend.
All these small experiences will help your house become associated with happy memories.
Be Patient With Their Emotions
It should be noted that not all kids will respond in the same way. Some children can be very happy from the very start while others can take longer to get used to the new environment. The kid who looked happy at first can begin to show his or her emotions after the family has settled in the new home.
Don’t ignore such emotions as missing your old home, friends, teachers, neighbourhood or any other place you were familiar with before the move. It’s absolutely natural for a person to miss something in such situations.
Let children express their thoughts but don’t force them to say more than they wish to say. Listen carefully and make sure the child understands that there is nothing wrong in missing the old house despite liking the new one.
Make the New Home Safe for Children
Prior to letting children freely discover their new home, ensure that there are no dangers present within the environment. Watch out for exposed electrical outlets, wiring, sharp corners, unstable furniture, balconies, windows, etc.
Protect children from exposure to cleaning supplies, tools, medication, and other harmful substances that could pose a danger. If you are living in an apartment, check for balcony doors, window locks, stairs, and other common areas.
Moving in itself can be considered temporarily dangerous since there will be many boxes, furniture, and other moving equipment scattered around the home. Ensure that children do not get into any areas where movers are transporting items.
After all the boxes have been unpacked and furniture has been secured, the environment will become much easier to explore for children.
Explore the New Neighbourhood Together
After you complete the first stage of settling down, go exploring the surroundings near your new house. Take your kids to local parks, stores, libraries, playgrounds, and other places that may become regular places in their routine life.
The discovery of a playground for young children will provide them with something familiar and interesting to expect from day to day. Older kids will be more excited about places where they can enjoy their interests or hang out with new friends.
The exploration of the surroundings by the whole family will help everyone adjust to the new environment.
Instead of considering the move the end of your old routine, you can start creating a new one in your new place.
Give Children Time to Settle In
However, it is necessary to note that settling in to a new place does not occur instantly. Boxes can be unpacked rapidly, while adaptation is a process that can require more time.
Do not assume that children would like everything at once. Allow children some time to get used to their new environment, house, neighborhood, school, and all these new things.
Be open to discussions with your child. Often children do not tell parents about difficulties right away. You will learn about the challenges your child faces when you talk about his or her day.
Eventually, the foreign environment will become an ordinary reality for him or her.
Final Thoughts
The task of moving along with children is not only about packing their things and bringing them to a new location. They have to get accustomed to changes in the environment, schedules, schools, friends, and even places around.
The best way is to include children into the process but not to burden them with the responsibility for relocation. Inform them about everything that is going on, answer all of their questions, let them take familiar things and give them some time.
On the day of relocation, professionals will do the work related to packing and moving while you will take care of your kids and many other tasks. Good planning may also help to decrease the level of disturbance for your family during this period of time.
At Sunrise Packers & Movers, we realize that each and every household move is unique, particularly when there are kids at home. Professional packing and moving will make your physical task much easier and more convenient.