Ask multiple moving companies and they will say moving is a pain in the butt; however, most families have to move at least once in their lives.
Tearing up your life, moving away from friends and family, moving to an unfamiliar town, and away from our established routines is tough for adults, but can be even harder on children regardless of age.
In this article, we’re going to look at some ways to help children deal with moving to a new city.
Keep The Lines Of Communication Open
If you do nothing else, it’s vital that you communicate with your kids about the upcoming move. Tell them why you have to move, tell them about the city you’re going to, and be ready to answer their questions and listen to their objections.
To help them adjust before they get there, sit down and browse Google Street View and take a virtual tour of the town you’re moving to. Look up fun things to do like parks and attractions they might be interested in.
Whatever you do, keeping your kids involved in the process goes a long way toward easing their distress over the situation.
Dealing With Smaller Children
Some say that moving with toddlers and preschoolers is easier than moving with teens because smaller kids aren’t accustomed to their neighborhoods, schools, and circle of friends the way teens are. However, little children can get anxiety too.
To deal with small kids, do your best to communicate what’s going on and try to use this as a teaching/learning opportunity. Some realtors have virtual home tours, and if your child is old enough, it can be fun to take a trip through the new home and let them pick out their room and decide where their toys are going to go.
About Those Teens
Teens. Just the word sends shivers through the spines of many parents. If you’ve seen teens rebel when things are normal, try uprooting their entire lives and moving them to a new town.
Unlike toddlers, teens are plugged into their school, their sports teams, their circle of friends, etc. These represent stability and things they rely on the get them through the awkward teen years.
While moving isn’t going to make them happy, the key is to involve them as much as possible in the process. Don’t dismiss their objections — let them vent and let them know you understand, and try to explain to them that moving is a part of adult life, and handling as best as possible is a sign of maturity.
Positive Wins The Day
Kids look up to their parents — yes even the teens — so the more positive you are during the process, the better they’ll feel inside, even if they don’t show it.
If mom and dad are relaxed about the move, then maybe everything is going to be ok. On the other hand, if you’re angry and stressed, your kids will mirror that.
So do your best to make the best out of the situation, and your kids will follow you. After all the moving is done, you will realize these tips were a huge factor when it comes to moving help advice.
