Giving your kids comfort during a challenging time is not a difficult task if you find ways to make the whole experience positive and exciting. Leaving familiar things and friends behind you is hard for everyone, let alone children. The fact that often they don’t have a say in big decisions makes it even worse. Therefore, helping your kids get used to a new house starts early, the moment you know you’ll need to move. If you regularly communicate with them and let them know why the move is the right thing for everyone, not just the adults, you’ll have them on board, and the whole relocation process will be hustle-free.
Keep up with the everyday routine
The best way of helping your kids get used to a new house is to show them nothing has changed except their environment. Your home is your child’s safest place, but even their young mind understands the connection with their home is you, not the objects and rooms around it.
After you arrive at your new house, try to stay consistent with their usual routines such as bedtime, mealtime, bath time, and homework time as much as you can. All these things were a part of their everyday life, and it needs to continue after the move.
Let them be a part of the moving process
Including your children in the moving process can help them cope with the changes faster. Nevertheless, before you come to that step, engage kids to help with packing and unpacking. It will be less challenging to deal with toddlers because they will participate in any activities that may seem fun or rewarding.
Motivating a teenager to be a part of the moving process is nearly impossible, but all is achievable with the right approach. Instead of forcing them, ask kindly for help and reward them for it.
Since you’ll be spending hours together working, use the opportunity to talk to your kids about the upcoming change. Sometimes, the best way to help someone is to listen and share the sentiment. You’re their pillar, and even though they expect you to be mentally strong, it’s okay to show concern and not know the answers to all questions.
Try to be efficient when organizing and packing for moving, so you don’t stress out in front of your kids. You can find valuable online sources for the moving-related topic on nextstopmoversraleigh.com, and prepare yourself for challenges ahead of you.
Focusing on helping your kids get used to a new house might make you forget that the moving process is exhausting for everyone, including yourself. Take breaks often and try to relax, and believe in the positive things you’re telling your kids about your future home.
Fill the home with familiar objects
Even though it’s tempting to experiment with new interior designs and styles when moving to a new home, such changes rarely do well for kids. Familiarity provides the feeling of safety, so adding too many new things to the lives of your little ones can negatively affect them. After they pick a room, let them design and furnish it.
Kids need to feel safe and comfortable in their private space, and they should decide on the new room layout. For example, their old toys might be disposable, but they might comfort them. That’s why they need to make some decisions when decluttering and packing. Perhaps some items have more value for them than you’d expect. Let them bring the memories to your new home.
Introduce your kids to new opportunities
When talking with your kids about moving, explain the reasons and introduce them to the benefits of their new home. What will they have in the new location they lacked in your old house? Does the new place have fun activities for kids to enjoy? Are there any great playrooms, kid-friendly restaurants, a zoo, outdoor opportunities? Maybe there is a nearby beach or a water park?
These things might excite them, but it’s also a way to estimate how affected they are by the change. Some kids will give a positive reaction, but others might have concerns. Thus, you must listen to their worries and change their mind. Remind them of the similar situations or life challenges they overcame in the past and tell them how great they did. You’re in this together again, and nothing is impossible to achieve when your family has your back.
Create new positive memories
The moment you plan an easy and stress-free relocation, explore the fun, child-friendly activities in your neighborhood. Visit parent forums and make connections with the local community before you move. You’ll be able to pick up some great tips and recommendations about the new place. Moreover, you’ll discover places your family might like. Use the knowledge of your discoveries when going for walks and checking out the local amenities together. Provide positive experiences for your little ones that they’ll associate with the new city.
Help them stay in touch with old friends
We were all kids once, but we might have forgotten how pure and defining some friendships in our childhood were. If your kids started school and created meaningful connections, encourage them to stay in touch with their old friends. Talk to their parents and arrange weekend face time or a Zoom call where they can exchange new experiences. Perhaps even organize a road trip with kids during a break. Alternatively, if you’re not moving far away from your old home, take them for occasional visits.
A final tip
No matter how much you want to make your kid’s childhood carefree, remember that having more than you can take has a toll on you. Kids notice such things, and it could create an endless circle of mutual worry. Avoid the stress, anger, and negative sentiments, because your child will feel it too. Do not just pretend that moving will be fun with new opportunities ahead of you – believe in them! The best way of helping your kids get used to a new house is to counteract any negative thoughts with the positive thing that awaits you.
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