Practical Tips For Moving With Kids
Moving can be daunting for your kids. Leaving their friends, school, old home, and other familiar settings may not be pleasant. Research indicates that the impact of moving can be worse for kids over 5. Despite this, you can help your kids adjust to the change and even embrace it with the right steps. Here are a few you can leverage when moving to your new home to achieve the desired outcome.
For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection.
Be transparent with them
Admittedly, you are the parent and can decide when or not to move without explanations. However, keeping your kids out of the loop may be more harmful than beneficial. Suddenly breaking the news may be met with outrage and even resistance. And no wonder they may not desire to leave behind what they’ve always known. Instead of keeping your move a secret, open up to them about your decision. You can expect them to express their initial disapproval, but be patient and listen to them. However, giving them a heads-up can help them come to terms with the inevitable change. As a tip, tell them earlier to help them prepare for it. This way, they can make the most of the time left with their friends and other things they love.
Involve them in the process
Another way to spark their enthusiasm is to involve them in the process. Except if they are infants or toddlers, your kids can help in every stage. For starters, seek their opinions about your new home before purchasing it. You can make it more fun by researching various houses with them and holding a vote to decide which option they like best. Consequently, allow them to pack their boxes (if they’re older) to give them ownership of their part of the relocation. You’ll also find it helpful to give them a packing list to make it easier. You also want to encourage them to choose how they want their rooms to look, so keep this in mind.
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Go on a leisure trip to your new neighborhood
Visiting your new home and neighborhood is essential to ensure that you and your family are safe. However, it can also be a great way to introduce them to their new life. And what better way to achieve this than to turn it into a leisure trip? Make it a point to explore other areas after seeing your home and introducing yourself to your neighbors. For instance, you can visit the parks, ice cream shops, restaurants, etc. This can leave a good impression in your kids’ minds and motivate them to move in quickly.
Give yourself time to plan and prepare
Moving can stress you out if you don’t plan early. Not only will you deal with packing boxes, emptying, and cleaning your old home, but you can also expect going-away parties, neighbors and friends stopping by to say goodbye, etc. Therefore, you’ll find it helpful to start packing earlier, so keep this in mind. While at it, you can make arrangements with a credible household moving company to ensure that your things arrive on time.
For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection.
