Moving to a new home can be stressful for the whole family. Younger children often become confused when their daily routine is disrupted. Adolescents fear the loss of old friends and dread the idea of having to make new ones in a strange school. But there are steps you can take to help alleviate their fears and get them involved in the move.
Communicate
It is important for parents to demystify the moving process by providing children with as much information as possible. Talk about the positive aspects of their new home, school and neighborhood. Encourage questions and invite children to talk about their worries.
Make it Fun
For older children, a move that involves leaving friends, sports teams and favorite hangouts can be very difficult. Host a party to help them say goodbye to friends. Emphasize how easy it is to keep in touch through email and the telephone. Give older children a disposable camera and ask them to photograph the move. Have your kids draw a picture of how they will arrange their new room. If at all possible, time the move to coincide with a start of a new school year.
Encouragement
For younger children, the move could be made into an adventure. Encourage your child to pack his or her things, but be sure to leave favorite toys out until the very end. Act out moving day well ahead of time. A conversation could go something like this, “On Friday when you wake up, there will be a big moving truck in the driveway. We will have breakfast, then go into your room and show the movers which things to put on the truck. Then, after the truck is filled we will get in our car and go to our new home. Then we will tell the movers exactly where to put your things in your new room…” Because we all fear the unknown, if possible, take the children with you to look at potential neighborhoods, homes and schools. It will help ease the transition and help children begin to make the adjustment. If this is not possible, take a camera or video recorder with you. Your children will appreciate the photos and/or video that you bring back. You can also use a map to help them understand the new area.
If your children are really young, consider hiring a baby-sitter while you pack and on moving day, resist the temptation to send the children away during the move. Participating will help them understand what’s happening and adjust more easily to their new surroundings.