Moving is one of the most stressful and overwhelming experiences an adult can go through and it can be even more so for a child because they depend on reliability and routine to feel safe. Here are a few tips to make moving easier on you and your family.
Get your kids in on the conversation in an appropriate way from early on. It’s important to get your children used to the idea and give them more time to adjust. It's also important to field any and all questions they may have and reassure them that it they will be safe and still have contact with their friends and other loved ones.
It is of utmost importance that your children feel safe with you. Your children should hear you talking about how excited you are about the move. They don’t need to take on your worries and concerns.
Be open to your children’s anxiety. Acknowledge their feelings and reassure them. Give your child a little more attention than usual during the transition.
Make it fun. Talk to your children about the activities and facilities available in the area you're moving to.
Get them used to the idea by visiting the new neighbourhood as much as possible if it's close by.
Get your children involved in helping as much as possible in the move. If they feel like they're a part of what's going in, your children will feel more empowered and needed.
Don't get rid of anything that belongs to them. Take everything along with you so that nothing changes for them when they're in the safe space of their new room. This will contribute to helping your children feel less stressed. A child's toys and belongings are symbols of attachment that are of vital importance to their emotional development. Another small thing that can make a big difference is to initially keep your children’s bed linen from the old house to help them feel more secure at bedtime.
If at all possible, time your move around your child's school schedule to ensure that they feel like they can say goodbye properly before the transition to a new school.
After the move, it's important to get your children into their familiar routines and organize their rooms as soon as possible. If your children start at a new school it's important for you to stay in touch with their homeroom teacher to keep updated on whether your child is settling and making friends. Keep the communication lines open between you and your child and assure them that they can come to you with anything that may be bothering them.
Organize play dates as soon as you’re ready to assist your child in making friends and forming new bonds.
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Our pets often struggle more than we do with the stress of moving. Here are a few tips to assist your furry companions with a smooth transition to a new home.
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A guide to moving house.
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