How to prepare your kids for a move

Moving can be a big deal if you live alone. It can be even more of a big deal if you’re moving your family. There are lots of things to pack and transport arrangements to make. In addition, you have to think about making the move easier for your kids. Read on for beneficial tips on how to prepare your kids for a move.

This post also contains an age-by-age guide for moving with kids, tips on saying goodbye, and how to prepare kids for move day. Finally, you can learn how moving companies can help out.

How to Prepare Your Kids for Moving

You may have already adjusted to the idea of moving house. However, your kids may still have challenges with coping with a move. You can utilise the following steps to prepare their minds.

Move preparation: An age by age guide for kids

You need to emotionally prepare your kids for a move differently depending on their ages. You can use the age-by-age guide for kids below as you prepare your move.

Infants and toddlers

Infants and toddlers may be sensitive to the increased stress and anxiety levels that come with a move preparation. Thus, they can become fussy and more demanding around this time. Older toddlers may even have to relearn some basic behaviours all over again. You can utilise the following steps to prepare them for moving:

• Give your infant or toddler some time and attention. Play with them and keep their stuffed animals or toys close by. This is not a time to lose their favourite toys.
• Try to stick to a consistent and everyday routine. This includes eating and nap times. For instance, parent coaches recommend that your toddlers should have regular bedtimes.
  

School-age kids

Your school-age kids may show great enthusiasm, which you can take advantage of. Let your kids feel as if they are a part of the process as they perform moving tasks.

They may have difficulty accepting the impending separation from friends and neighbours. These emotions of confusion, anger, and frustration can become plainer a short time after the move.

• Do proper research on the neighbourhood you are moving to. Find out if it has a community centre or club. 
• Also, try to know more about the school you’ll enrol your child into. In all these, look for ways to make your child adjust more quickly.
• Remember to obtain copies of your kids’ transcripts. You’ll need them for enrollment at their new school.
• Before the actual move, you may hold a farewell party. This can allow them to prepare for the move emotionally.
• Remember to take good pictures. One way of helping kids dispel lonely feelings is to browse photo books with images of friends and the old house.
  

Teenagers

Saying goodbye can indeed be tough for teenagers. They are usually quite involved in their social relationships. This can make it much harder to adjust to a move emotionally.

• Do make sure to tell your teen about the move well ahead of time. This will give teenagers the time and space they need to prepare. It can also ease the emotional toll of saying goodbye before move day.
• Also, look out for local activities and employment opportunities in the new school and community.
• You may also check out the town bookstore for fun things to do and information on famous attractions and local sports teams.
• Above all, stay upbeat. Your kids can pick up emotional cues from you if you look stressed. While you should reminisce and bond, always remain positive.
  

Tips for Moving With Kids

• Read books and watch movies that have excellent themes of helping kids cope with difficult situations.
• Make the move enjoyable by giving them opportunities to participate. For example, they can doodle interesting labels or fix stickers on boxes.
• Use visuals to present the move in a positive light.
• You may visit the new yard and neighbourhood with your kids before the move. This can help kids get used to the idea.
• You can make the move easier by sticking to set routines. For example, retain Friday night out routines, family dinner routines, and bedtime rituals.
• Keeping familiar objects in the new house is essential to helping children and kids feel more comfortable after a move.
• Understand their feelings and express what you’ll miss about your current neighbourhood. Have open discussions.
• Monitor your child’s adjustment to the move and, if necessary, work with a school counsellor or therapist.
  

Tips on Saying Goodbye

You can think of exciting and creative ways to give your kids closure. Here are some ideas.

Organise a farewell party

You could organise a going-away party and remind them that they can remain in touch with friends online or as pen pals.

Make use of technology

Apart from creating an email address for sending notes and photos, you can introduce them to using Zoom or FaceTime to keep in touch. You could even plan a future trip to visit a former neighbourhood friend.

Exciting Ways to Prepare Kids to Move

If you are stumped on more innovative ideas on how to prepare kids to move, you can try the following:

• You could identify a family-friendly restaurant and make it your new destination for family dinners.
• Buy the local sports teams’ gear to excite your kids about attending sports games in the new neighbourhood.
• Your kids may feel powerless. It helps significantly if your kids feel more in control. They can plan their new room, pick out new bedding, or paint colours.
• Alternatively, you can present an exciting video house tour. Enjoy pictures and explore the neighbourhood on Google Maps.
  

How to Prepare Kids for Move Day

Moving house causes tremendous upheavals for sensitive kids. That is why you need to prepare them well for your move. The tips below can help you move smoothly from planning to settling in:

• Create and make use of a moving day plan.
• A primary step of getting ready for move day is to declutter. This should be done well beforehand, and you should involve your kids. Let them participate in the sorting, donating, and trashing process.
• Another reason to declutter ahead of time is to give them time and space for the associated trauma of losing their belongings.
• Settling in with new curtains, furniture, and decorations is quicker when done in your current home. It actually provides better security in the new house.
• Explain the process of the move day to your kids ahead of time. This can make the actual move day less scary to them.
• Moving with a baby can be hectic. You can ask friends and family or hire a babysitter to help babysit during the move.
• Keep your essentials box and a bag of toys close on a moving day. This can help keep your kids busy.
• Make good plans for the care of your pets during your move. You may safely secure your pets as you unload the moving truck.
• You can be honest about household items you no longer have use for and sell or donate them. This will ease the overall stress of packing and the move.
  

How Moving Companies Can Help Out

With much to do before, during, and after moving day, you may wonder what kind of help you can get from a reliable moving company.

• A moving company can help you with packing household items.
• A moving company can transport your items safely.
• They also provide great parenting tips and tricks to build a stronger family connection during your move period.
• You can learn about your options for car transport.
• If you’re moving internationally from your current location, they can help you move smoothly.
  

Get Help from Professional Moving Companies

After reviewing this guide on preparing your kids for a move, you may look for ways to ease the stress. An expert moving company can save you a lot of trouble. They have friendly movers to deliver an enjoyable moving experience for your beloved kids.