How to help your child adjust to moving to a new home

Moving can be stressful for anyone but for children, it can be a real struggle. They may be leaving a school they’ve become comfortable in, moving away from close friends and even their favorite places around town.

Moving can also be a positive experience for them and if framed the right way, can be a new journey for kids of all ages.

We’ve been moving families and their children for decades and our team has a few simple pieces of advice to help your kids adjust to moving to a new home.

Honor your children’s feelings

When you have that family meeting and announce that you are moving, you could be in for a whole host of feelings and reactions. That can range from excitement all the way down to sadness and fear. As a parent, you must do your best to always remain calm and hear your children’s feelings. Never discount those feelings and let them know that you understand this may be a stressful time for them.

Host a party with all their friends

While you may be busy packing and all the other responsibilities of moving, it’s important to take the time and make your children as comfortable as possible during a move. One way to do that is to host a party with all their friends. It’s a great way for them to have fun, take their mind off moving and allow them to say goodbyes. You can make sure you get everybody’s e-mail and mobile phone numbers at the party so they can keep in touch once you move.

Make sure your children are part of the move

There are several ways you can make your children part of your moving journey and one of them is to make sure you do not leave them out of any type of decisions. At the very least, they should be involved in most discussions around your move. Another way to keep them part of the process is to allow them to pack their own boxes. And on moving day, you can even ask them if they’d like to stop and see something that interests them on the way to your new home.

Moving with children can be stressful for everyone but the more you involve the entire family in the conversation, planning and moving, you’ll see your children slowly embrace moving.