Moving can be quite stressful even to kids. No one wants to say goodbye to their home, and neighborhood. It’s especially difficult for children who have already made friends or gotten used to the environment. In order to make it easier on them, you have to prepare them in advance. In this guide, you’ll learn the top tips on how you can prepare your kids to move without stressing them emotionally.
Break the News to Them Early
Once you’ve decided it’s time to move, you have to discuss the issue with your kids. Kids should be involved in the discussion and they shouldn’t feel left out. Not telling them about the move or asking them how they feel about it (even if you will make the move regardless of if they want to or not) will make them feel like you’ve been keeping secrets from them. It’s best you tell them the news about moving ahead of time, so that they can have time to process the whole idea. Once you’ve told them, you can all start a visual countdown on a paper or calendar. This will help them see how many days are left until the move.
Let Them Express Themselves about the Move
Moving can be an exciting experience and scary at the same time. It’s possible to be quite ready for the new experience, and nervous about it. Kids will of course be excited about the possibility of meeting new friends, but on the other side saying goodbye to the old ones. Have a discussion with your kids and let them understand that it’s okay to have all these feelings. It’s okay for them to be happy or sad. It’s also okay for their feelings to change with time.
Give them an Opportunity to Plan their New Room
Another great way of making your kids feel involved is by letting them decorate their rooms. You can guide them as they pick out a new paint color, light, bedspread and sheets. They can also make a sign with their name on it, or get wall decors. By doing so, you’ll get them excited about the new adventure and they’ll be ultimately ready to move into the new space.
Pack Up Together
As a parent, it’s important to give your kids the power to make choices at the right time. This will allow them to feel more secure because they’re in control. It also lets them understand that their thoughts and feelings are heard and respected. A good way to do this is by asking them to help you pick which household items to keep and the ones to get rid of before moving. You can also give them a special task to perform such as labeling and coloring the packing boxes.
Give them Time to Say Goodbye
Almost all kids build strong relationships with people and places. Before moving to a new place it’s possible that your kids will be leaving their friends behind. Therefore, it would be great if you gave them enough time to say goodbye to their friends. You could even throw a going-away party and let them invite their friends.
Conclusion
Moving is difficult to everyone including kids. The most important tip is to stay positive with your kids. Try to maintain a positive attitude since kids tend to look up to their parents for emotional support. Remain optimistic about the new neighborhood, house and encourage them to stay positive too. It might be hard at first, but as long as you follow the tips in this guide they’ll get used to it with time.
