Moving to a New Place?
Prepare Your Children
When you take your family on a small trip to the park or the zoo, you plan. You plan what time to leave, what to bring with you, what to do while you are there, and when to leave. With children, a plan is always necessary.
So, when you decide to move to a new home across the city, the state or the country, it requires a little more preparation than your afternoon excursion to the aquarium. Preparing your young children for the transition and the day itself is central to an efficient and pleasant move.
To help you with this part of your move, here are some tips to follow.
Talk To Them
As with any big decision with your family, you should discuss what is going on and what to expect. Tell your children about the move, why the decision was made, and where you are moving to decrease uncertainty or confusion. Also, talk with them about the area you are moving to; highlight some of the fun places that will be there as well as the school they will be attending. If it’s possible, take your children by the area, the school, or the house. If it is not, try showing them pictures. The more information your children have, the more comfortable they will be with the transition when it takes place.
Let Them Have A Say
Give your children a voice in your move. That isn’t to say they should make crucial decisions on your moving process, but let them have control over a few things on moving day. For example, have your children decide what they want to wear on the day of the move or a couple toys they want to bring while you travel. You can even let them pack a small bag as if your family was going on a short vacation. These valuables will help comfort them during your move when everything else is packed away.
Keep In Touch
One of the toughest parts of any move for children is the loss of friends, especially if you decide to move a long distance. If your children have close friends, coordinate a way that they can stay in touch. With technology, this is much easier. Instant messengers, email, and Skype are all ways to remain close with family and friends over long distances. You can even work with the parents of your children’s friends to arrange a destination vacation where your children can see their friends once or twice a year.
Get Them Involved
When you settle in to your new home, you should try to get your children involved in the community. As your children get more involved, they will meet new friends and your new home won’t seem so new or foreign anymore. Organized sports, church youth groups, after-school activities or community events are all ways to have your children become more comfortable with the new area.
Children of all ages are apprehensive about moving to a new home and leaving behind the secure environment they had grown accustomed. But with the right preparation, your kids will quickly adapt to the new experience.