Each year over 23 million families and individuals move. While kids are pretty resilient, moving can still throw them for a loop. Growing up, home was your child’s safety zone. For many children, it is the only home they have ever known. When you move, it disrupts their sense of safety and their need for normalcy and schedule. If you are moving in the near future, make sure you implement these strategies to help calm your little one’s nerves.
Prepare Them
Just like you don’t like having surprises thrown at you, kids don’t either. Talk to your kids and, in a way that they understand, explain that you are moving houses. Tell them why, and try to get them excited by asking them what they want to do in their new house, if they want to see some pictures of their new bedroom, or if they are excited to play in their new backyard. Giving your kids plenty of notice helps them warm up to the idea of moving and can get them looking forward to it.
You can also tell them about movers, such as Bekins Van Lines Inc, who may be coming to pack up your home. This may help them reduce stress if they know that there will be help and the entire task doesn’t just fall on the shoulders of the family.
Read Some Books
Kids love books because they are able to relate to them and understand them. There are plenty of books out there that can help them prepare to move, depending on their age range. Here are a few ideas.
“Big Ernie’s New Home” by Teresa and Whitney Martin
“Where I Live” by Eileen Spinelli
“The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day” by Stan and Jan Berenstein
This also gives you an opportunity to spend time with your kids, and answer questions about the big move as they come up. By feeling safe and secure and knowing their favorite book characters have also experienced moving homes, the moving process will be much easier on everyone.
Stick to a Schedule
Kids thrive in structured environments, and when they are expecting their world to be turned upside down, the worst thing you can do is throw off their schedule as well. Make sure to not deviate from “the norm” during this time, because it will cause your child to feel insecure.
Moving can be stressful, especially when there are kids involved. By implementing some of these ideas, you can reduce a portion of that stress. While the entire process can seem overwhelming, your child will soon be laughing and playing in their new backyard, with no stress over their old home. You may even find that your child is open to change, and looking forward to the move!
