Although there is no such thing as an easy move, moving with a child makes the whole process a little more complicated. The way your child responds to moving depends not only on their personality but also on their age. Moreover, the distance plays an important role. All in all, a lot of factors contribute to the child’s emotional reaction. However, there are certain things all parents can do to make the move easier on both their child and themselves. Read on to find out how to prepare your child for a move.
Things to take into consideration when preparing kids for a move
- Since every child is different, parents can expect different reactions to the sentence “We’re moving!” Some kids are more adaptable while others find change more stressful. No one knows children better than their parents, which makes you the ideal person to prepare your child for a move.
- Younger children are usually more adaptable than preteens and teens. Even if they put up a fight, they are more likely to accept the idea of moving home sooner rather than later.
- Additionally, the location of your new home is very important. The closer your new home is, the smoother the transition. First, the family will have the comfort of being able to visit their old neighborhood more often. Second, there will be fewer changes to adjust to. Plus, residential movers NJ normally charge less for short distance moves.
Talking is the best way to prepare your child for a move
Children tend to get attached to the home they live in, their neighborhood, friends, and everything that is familiar. This is why moving can be tough on them, especially if they have not done it before. Your job is to make them calm and excited about relocation.
Break the news early
The most important thing to do is have as many talks with your kid about the move as necessary. Inform them about relocation as soon as you can. This way, you’ll have more time to prepare your child for the move. Instead of announcing the move out of the blue, try to introduce the idea gradually. Also, make the move a daily conversation topic. The more you postpone this talk, the more upset they will be when the moving day comes.
Put yourself in their shoes
What frustrates children very often is the lack of control. They might feel like their opinion does not matter. If possible, ask your child what they want and take their wishes into consideration. Be ready to answer all their questions focusing on the positive sides of the move. If there is something the child is worried about, make sure to address it and find a solution or a compromise.
Ask your child to help with the move
If they are old enough to be aware of the move, they are old enough to help. Let your child help you with moving tasks, like cleaning or packing. They cloud help you organize a yard sale, too. This will keep them entertained, besides, they can be of great help. Leave the fragile items to your NJ movers while and your family packs and unpacks the rest together. Reward kids for their help.
Find something to look forward to
Start planning your new life. This is a great way to get your child excited about relocation. It is a good idea to let your child design his/her new room. Let them pick the wall colors, the furniture, the layout, etc. After all, it is their room. If possible, visit the new town before the move and explore all the fun places the child can visit more frequently once you settle in. Find a local playground, beach or ice-cream store your child may like. Alternatively, look up these places on the internet and show them to your child.
Say goodbye to favorite people and places
Throwing a farewell party is also one of the ways to prepare your kid for the move. Most children would like to have a “goodbye” party with their friends and classmates. If you need to save money for the move, at least organize a small gathering for their closest friends.
In addition, ask your child which places in their old town they would like to visit before they leave. It could be a swimming pool, a movie theater, the zoo, etc. Try to visit at least one place a week.
Take familiar objects to your new home
It is a good idea to leave some of your belongings behind when you move in order to get lower moving quotes. There are items you never use and some of them are not worth moving because you can easily buy new ones after the move. However, some items can have emotional value no matter how useless they seem. Therefore, make sure to bring familiar objects with you to make your child feel more at home – for example, pillows, paintings, figurines or picture frames. And, of course, their favorite toys. Those items should be among the first ones to unpack.
What to do after the move
Make sure you take your child to all those places they are excited to visit. Failing to keep the promises made before the move is a bad start of their new life. It will slow down the process of adaptation and put the move in a negative context which could make the next move harder. Explore the new town and help them make new friends. For example, take every opportunity to organize play dates and sleepovers. Also, teach them about friendly behavior and body language.
Do not change your child’s daily routine. Keep everything as normal as possible. If you used to take them to the park at a certain time or have family meals at the same time every day, nothing has to change in your new home.
