Moving house can be difficult no matter your age. For children, however, it can feel even more stressful than for adults, and it’s important that you take clear steps to make the transition as easy as possible for them. From open communication to planning some nice activities, here’s how to make things easier for the whole family.
Be open with them
While some families choose to keep their kids in the dark until the last minute, if you keep them involved in the process and let them know about the move well before it actually happens, you give them time to mentally prepare. While they might be upset at first, they’ll have time to ask any questions about the move, and you can make adjustments as you see fit. By the time the actual move happens, everyone will be as ready as they can be.
Use a removals service
While it’s often technically possible to do the move all by yourself, it will mean that you’ll barely have any time to be with your kids on the big day. By using a removals service like Bright Movers, you can make sure that you’re able to spend a little more time with your kids, moving some smaller items with them and taking lots of breaks.
Visit the new area with them
Kids, like the rest of us, can be a little suspicious of change. Before you move, try to visit the new area that you’re moving to and arrange some nice activities. If they can already develop some positive connotations with the space that’s going to be their new home, they might even be able to start looking forward to the move, instead of fearing it.
Pack strategically
When packing with kids, it can be good to start packing very early on, but you want to do so in a strategic manner. Ideally, you want to pack up their space and all their toys as late as possible. Having that space as a stable environment that they can retreat to from the rest of the chaos can be really important, and can make it feel a lot less stressful. It shouldn’t make too much more work for you, but it’ll make a world of difference to them.
Be patient
Finally, be patient with your kids. While you’ve likely moved before, and you’re confident that you can make friends wherever you go, if your children haven’t had the experience of moving before, it can feel like their world is being ripped apart.
They will likely be upset about leaving their friends and school behind, and that’s something you’ll have to accept. Be patient with them, and create a calm environment in which they can come to terms with everything that’s happening.
By following these tips, you can help to transform the move from something your kids will dread into an ultimately positive experience. It won’t all be plane sailing, but you can definitely make things a whole lot less traumatic for everyone involved.