Moving to a new place is always challenging, but especially if you have kids. For them, relocation can be really overwhelming. Rush about packing, saying goodbye to your home and friends, old habits and routines, familiar environment and neighbors, etc. – that’s hard for an adult, let alone a kid. Still, there is a lot you can do to make the whole relocation process more manageable. Start preparing for a move in advance, maintain a positive attitude along the way, and help smooth the transition from one home to another by following a parent’s guide to moving with children.
Prepare your children by talking with them.
- Before starting any preparations for moving with children, talk with them about:
Everything they can expect in a new place. - What the benefits of this relocation for you as a family are.
- Challenges they’ll need to face when adapting to a new environment.
You can even start problem-solving in advance. For example, if your kids are worried about making new friends, think about various ways to socialize and discuss them together.
Let your kids know that they can come to you at any point to talk about the current transition and ask for your advice and support. If you are coping with moving stress and anxiety, it will be challenging to communicate with your kids, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. You can find guidance in online resources, and feel free to ask for help from your loved ones – family members and friends. They can take care of your kids for a few days if needed. Looking after and disciplining your toddler isn’t easy, especially in situations like moving, so a helping hand may be exactly what you need.
Before starting preparations for moving with children, be ready to talk with them.
Ask your kids to help you with packing and give them a choice.
Encourage your kids to help out with packing if their age allows it. That’s especially important when it’s time to pack their room. If possible, get rid of anything that seems like clutter.
Children love to have options, even more so if the choice will influence their everyday life. Even though your kids are probably too young to decide whether you should relocate or not or which city is the best for you, there are still some easy decisions that can make a big difference in their lives. For example, let your children choose the color of their room in a new home. It will give them a basic sense of control at a time when life events seem out of their hands.
Let your kids help you with packing their room and toys.
Focus on the good things about the move
Whenever you discuss the relocation with your kids, focus on the positive things. Whether it is a bigger house, a warmer climate, proximity to the seaside, or anything else, they need to know that there are many reasons to be enthusiastic about the move. You’ve probably already taught your children why it’s so important to travel with young kids and spend time together. Now, you need to teach them about embracing changes and being optimistic about the new environment.
You can also plan to put a gift waiting for them into a new home – it can be a toy, a bicycle, or anything else you assume it would make them happy. Think about relocation as an adventure, and that’s the way to represent it to your kids.
Age matters when moving with children
As you are already aware, there’s a big difference between relocating with a baby and moving with a high-schooler. If you have young kids, find a baby sitter for a moving day. It’s necessary both for your sanity, but also for your kid’s safety. In an ideal scenario, find someone away from all the chaos of moving your house, where your children can go on a moving day – a family member’s home will be the best option. There they can follow their daily routine of meals, naps, and everything else. It will also help avoid the anxiety and stress at your home as everything is being loaded in the moving truck.
Starting a new life chapter
Your children will undoubtedly be excited if you are moving from a smaller to a bigger city. Big metropolitan cities, such as New York, offer many opportunities for fun and entertainment, better schools, more outdoor activities, etc. Starting a new life in this city will be exciting both for you and your kids. The number of new possibilities will be endless.
From must-visit restaurants in NYC to numerous museums, libraries, and galleries – this city has everything you could wish for. No doubt that you’ll quickly realize that your kids will grow in a city where they can make their dreams come true.
However, each move needs time for adapting and settling down. Over the first few days and weeks, drive or walk around together to discover all the important places in your new neighborhood. Remember where you can find essential services that you’ll need, and find kid-friendly places in your area.
Keep your family’s routines in a new home.
Packing and unpacking are daunting tasks that no one likes, but they must be done. To make those activities more fun, play some relaxing and cheerful music, and enjoy a family meal after the main part of the job is over. Keeping some routines is a priority, and it will help your kids, so be sure to keep their regular naps, mealtimes, and bedtimes. Younger kids thrive with routines and predictability, giving them a sense of security.
Get your kid’s room in order before the rest of the house. Fill your new home with familiar items and furniture. By doing so, you are making sure that everybody feels comfortable after the relocation.
Bringing familiar items into your new home and keeping some routines will make everyone more comfortable.
Make new friendships
For many kids of different ages, the hardest part of moving to another location is leaving close friends behind. They can feel isolated, and adapting to a new friend group can take some time. Even at a young age, children tend to form deep connections. Engage your kids in some activities, hobbies, and sports. That’s a great and practical way to help them meet other children with similar interests.
Furthermore, explain to them that moving to a new environment doesn’t mean they can’t hold on to their meaningful friendships from before. They should stay in contact with old friends and, if possible, make visits to the old neighborhood from time to time. If they are old enough, encourage them to use parent-approved social media applications for purposes of staying in touch with their friends and kindred spirits.
Keep your spirits up.
Follow this guide to moving with children and stay optimistic about this big, life-changing event. Your positive attitude will help ease your children’s stress during the move. Try your best to make the moving process fun and exciting, and keep a positive outlook on things.
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