Moving isn’t easy or welcoming for an adult, neither it is for a kid. Your mind is struggling in a thousand unsettled issues like house-hunting, choosing a reliable moving company, or what to pack and what you should leave behind. When planning the whole move, you are feeling like the world is upon on your shoulders. Your main concern appears to be how it will affect your kids. You are looking for ways for moving with your kids easier.
Regarding the move kids may feel both scared and excited; they might feel angry and betrayed. Moving, whether long distance or local means for the kids that they will have to give up everything that they’ve accomplished, like being the captain of school soccer team for an example. The basic fear your child might have is that it won’t make any new friends. Considering all of the children’s needs add some serious stress to your move, no doubt you have your own anxieties.
There are no written rules you have to submit to, nevertheless there might be offered some tips that aim to avail. Since you are the parent, not the kid, you feel extra responsible. Lay down that weight. Feel free to pursue ways that will assist you. You don’t have to feel frightened or entangled. Don’t be afraid to draw out or use a moving checklist – it will arrange the chaos. If you are looking for ways for moving with kids easier here is a moving checklist and some advice how to do it:
Relocating with kids tips
- Telling the kids. It might choke them. How you provide the news is crucial. Kids love pizza, order some, or make the children’s favorite meal for dinner. Bring some nice and familiar surroundings to the unpleasant event. Make them feel like it is not going to be a huge and major change. Let them feel safe while bringing the news. Let it be a celebration, rather than unfortunate occurrence. Tell them hoe exciting it is going to be, what things there are for the kids to to there – playgrounds, places they can go to have fun like where they can train their favorite sports. This is going to make moving sound to them as if a new and interesting opportunity is ahead of them.
- Making the kids participants. Supervising severely the process may make your kids feel forsaken and alone. Don’t make your child a victim, but an accomplice. Treat them like grown-ups and make them a part of the decisions. They will feel important, they will feel in control of what’s happening, not like chattels you’re about to move around. If you are moving with kids and pets you can involve your child to feel responsible for the pet. Kids will join the preparation process and will have someone to take care for. This will shorten the distance between you and your kid will shorten.
Tips of how kids can contribute
Moving is stressful to your kids too. Don't let them feel abandoned. They can also have someone to take care for.
- They can help you decide what to pack and what to toss. Of great importance is to understand that their toys and things are not to be handled or thrown away by someone else, even you. They can evaluate which are their favorite things and even put them in a special box. When the packing of your home begins your children’s things should be the first to go into the boxes. Dragging your children into that will help to improve their self-esteem, which has been compromised. And then when the truck with your belongings arrive at your new home let unload the kids box first so that they can keep busy in their rooms while you can do the rest of the job.
- They can help you organize a moving sale. Resolving what you really need and what can be left behind is a huge section of the moving process. You can talk to your children and explain how much the things cost. Together you can put prices and decide on what you will spend the profit. Maybe it will be on a summer dream vacation, or on a new bike.
- They can help you furnish their own new room. Together you can pick the colors of their new room. Maybe they didn’t have their own room before and now they will be excited. Along with them you can choose the furniture and the whole style. This will make your kids eager for a change.
- Introducing the new place. If your new home isn’t long distance away, you can arrange a trip to the new location. Visit some local landmarks, places which are of an interest to your children. This will give your kids something to look forward to. They will not feel like they don’t know what to expect. If you are moving out of state you can search for photos and information online and show them what it is going to be like.
- Organizing a party. You have a social life, but so does your kid. Children are frightened that they won’t be able to create new friendships. They will endeavor to stick to their social environment. Make sure that they will feel safe about it. Gather their friends to a party where can exchange contacts. Talk to the kids’ parents on how you can arrange further meetings and visits and that way all kids will be happy that they will still stay friends and see each other once in a while.
Some other issues you have to consider:
- If you are moving with toddlers and preschoolers you must pay attention to their tons of toys. Which will they truly miss, and are attached to? Be sure you don’t make some big changes to their closest environment that will be stressful. You can give them a few boxes and ask them to place inside the things they want to take. If there are some toys they don’t want anymore you can sell them on the moving sale.
- If you are moving with school-age-kids pay attention whether you should move during school year or you should do this in summer. If your child is going to participate in a theater play or is looking forward to being a part of another event at school you may decide to plan the moving after this. In that way your child will feel better and may be more willing to collaborate with the moving.
- If you are moving with teens consider that their social life is of a huge importance. It represents their whole life. Your teenager is probably involved with events and activities which are a great deal for him or her. Leaving them will feel like the end of the world. If your teenager is old and reliable enough, look for somewhere your kid can stay on the occasion and attend to these events. In the meantime let your teenager know you are moving as soon as the decision is taken. That way you can suggest to look for the places that he likes to visit and see where they are in the new place. So that during the period of moving your teenager will look forward to it more positively. You can also suggest to discuss together the choice of school – if your teenager feels that he is going to be heard that will decrease the resistance towards moving that is most probably going to happen. Even though you may do your best your teenager may still absolutely refuse to move. In this case to him and discuss if he doesn’t leave with you where is he going to stay and how is he going to support himself financially. In not too long he will most probably change his mind.
When you are moving with kids you have a lot in you mind. Ease your move by finding a trustworthy moving company.
- Often you simply don’t have the time to take care for everything. There are different reasons causing the need of relocation. Some of these reasons may not be so fortunate. Suddenly you are in a position to decide a lot of things, including dealing with your children issues. To feel relieved and safe you must be sure of the moving company you are engaging. You have to spend time choosing one and it may be the time you don’t have. To calculate your moving expenses fast get some free moving estimates. A good suggestion is to read some company reviews, written by people who already hired the company you are interested in. They will help you decide and feel safe. Worry for your kids – let the moving company worry for your move.
Saving time is major issue so that you have time for important things like your kids’ needs. Money is another major issue. You can get free estimates and know in advance how much your move will cost. This will unload some pressure off of you and will ease your choice.
Great tips! Moving with kids can always be a difficult moving situation. Thank you for providing the tips to make this process easier.