For children who don’t understand all the changes, moving can sometimes be unnerving. Younger children often don’t understand where their toys are going. Children of all ages can experience a sense of loss when they have to leave friends and other familiar surroundings.
But moving doesn’t have to be a sad or anxious time for children. With the right help, children can become excited about the change. Help your children cope with the move by following these tips for moving with children:
- Perhaps the most difficult aspect of a move for a child is the lack of control they feel. Children are extremely sensitive to change because it often comes at them by surprise. Imagine someone showing up one day, packing all your things and shipping them off to somewhere you’ve never been before. It sounds scary, doesn’t it? That’s how a child feels when a move comes as a surprise.
- So, the trick is to get them acclimated as early and as often as possible. Keep them involved in every part of the moving process if possible. Bring them with you house hunting, let them pack boxes, and allow them to choose which favorite toys can ride with them during the move. Explain to them as much as possible what is happening. Alert them before major occurrences happen. For example, let them know a few days beforehand that the moving truck will be arriving to help bring their toys to their new home.
- Be sure to let your young children know that you will be moving with them, which pets will be coming with you, and that their toys will be delivered for them to their new home. Have your child help you pack a special box of things that will go on the truck and can be opened immediately upon arrival. They will feel a sense of security when they have control over where their toys are going. It will help to have some familiar things with them when you first arrive at your new home.
- Help older kids adjust to leaving their friends by giving them a channel to communicate with their friends from your new home. Allow them to call friends, write letters, or email to stay in touch. Help them collect pictures and make a photo album of memories they have shared together.
- Get your kids excited about their new home by asking their input about decorating their new rooms. Give them as much freedom as you can for making their new space somewhere they can feel comfortable.
- Make an itinerary for milestones that will happen during the moving process. Stick to it as much as possible. Be careful, though, not to put too much emphasis on dates that may change. Reassure your kids by setting expectations early and give flexibility on when they will occur. Focus more on the order in which they will occur. For example, we will pack the garage, then the bedrooms, then the kitchen and living room. After we pack boxes, the movers will arrive and help us take our things to our new home. Then, we will go there and meet our belongings together in our new home!
When you prepare your children for what is ahead, they will feel better about change. Give them as much control as possible over the process and especially with their own things. Help them find reasons to be excited about what lies ahead and they will have a positive experience with your move!