Moving with children can be a daunting task. Whether you're moving to the next neighbourhood, city, or another country, change has a profound impact on the entire family. Children have their concerns, just as you have yours. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help cope with the situation. We've prepared a guide with tips that would make the move to go more smoothly.
Tell them about the move as early as possible
Once you've made a final decision about the move, tell your children. Don't wait until the last minute because this will create extra pressure. Be honest with them, sharing the reasons for the move and why you have made this decision. This will give them enough time to reflect on what is happening and adjust to the big change.
Don't underestimate the emotions when moving with children
Moving to a new home with children involves a lot of emotions that will overwhelm your family. For the little ones, these will be even stronger. Allow them to feel all of them and don't suppress sadness.
Grief can most often be characterized by several stages. In the beginning, they are likely to deny the change. Eventually, you will notice growing anger and innovative attempts to change the situation. It's good to be tolerant so that the situation doesn't become more heated.
When your children are visibly sad and quieter than usual, the acceptance has begun. Support them and show them how the move will make everyone's life more fun and nicer. This is the moment when they will listen to you and begin to get more excited about family activities.
Remind them about the move regularly
Speak to them about the upcoming change occasionally. There is no need to have a serious conversation about the move every day. You can do it more casually. When you're in a store, show them something and remark how good it would look in your new home and ask them what they think about it. This way, moving will become a normal topic of conversation that isn't just associated with tears and fear.
Answer all their questions honestly
The questions you will ask yourself when moving with children are many. Many of them will come from the children themselves. Pay enough attention to all their questions. This will reduce their worry and encourage their curiosity for details. When discussing something particular, ask them for their opinion. This would show them that you care and they would feel like they are part of the process.
Make a memory book about the move
For children, moving means parting with everything they know. Make the change not just about collecting belongings, but preparing them for a new adventure. Turn the move into an exciting event by recording all the details.
Make them a memory book or adventure journal. In it, put pictures of your favourite moments in the house. Let your children draw in it, write how they imagine their new home and describe everything they experience. Gather their friends' contacts in it and ask them to leave a short wish for your children. This diary will make the move exciting and will be your little family project.
Toys are to be kept, not given away
The difference between separating toys that children won't play with anymore and sorting out the ones they want to always have with them is very thin. In general terms, it's about sorting things, but for children the process is more specific. Start with packing toys as early as possible. That way they won't associate moving with parting with their belongings.
Have your children set their favourite things aside. This way, you will see which of their toys, stuffed animals and even clothes they love the most. By focusing on these, they won't think as intensely about the rest and will hardly notice their absence. If their whole room is full of "very important toys" give them a box to put all the ones they want to keep. This way they will have a limit on the number and will choose more easily.
Use the time when they are sleeping or not home to go through the items they didn't specify earlier, and part with the unnecessary stuff. Be sure to do this while you are alone in the house. Otherwise, they will decide they only want to play with the thing they saw you packing and won't let you throw it away or donate it.
Read books about moving
Reading fairy tales helps children not only fall asleep, but also explore what is happening with the characters. Look for books in which the main character changes homes or goes on a big trip.
Through fairy tales, your children will see the situations their favourite character gets into and what happens to them during the move. When they understand that they are going through the same trials as them, they will realize that they are not alone. This would lessen their worries. Before you buy the book, make sure the story ends on a happy note. The happy ending would give your children more courage not to be afraid of the events to come.
Let them plan what they want in their new room
Letting your children make decisions would give them the sense of stability and comfort they need in their new home. Allow their creativity to show. Give them a chance to choose the paint in their room, what bedding to have, and why not even the pattern on the carpet.
Ask them how they want to organize their toys on the shelves. Even if their ideas aren't great, listen to them. Leave the room arranged that way, and once the initial excitement has passed, arrange it in a more rational way.
Include them in the packing process
Packing can be a bit of an adventure for children if you organise it well. Involve them in the process. They'd be interested in what you're doing anyway, and they'd better be part of the team from the start.
Let them prepare some of the items themselves and put them in the boxes. Then give them a chance to paint on the boxes and make them pretty. Explain to them how, thanks to the wonderful drawings, the helpers will recognize their boxes more easily. This will help them with unloading and they will take the toys to the new nursery more quickly.
Before moving with children, it is good to know that they are good helpers. They can assist with filing items and labelling boxes. This will make it easier to handle the tasks while spending time with them.
Farewell party "See you soon"
Organise a going-away party a week or two in advance rather than two days before the final move. This will give your children time to make sense of what is happening. You'll also show them they can see their friends again at the park or at school before you move out. The other positive side is that you will reduce the risk of crying and scenes right before the big day.
At the party, do their favourite group activities and you'd create happy last memories. Take pictures of what's happening and include the footage in the adventure journal. Be sure to take everyone's contacts and tell your kids they'd be able to hear from their friends again.
Today's digital age allows you to keep in touch with far away friends. Explain this to the little ones. Even before moving with your kids, show them how you communicate with your friends in other cities. Assure them they can do the same with theirs.
Arrange childcare
For this, you can trust your friends or parents. This would give you time for packing and give the children an opportunity to create more memories with their loved ones.
On moving day, you can do something similar. Your children may be highly influenced by seeing the process of moving things out and create extra tension.
Plan fun games immediately after moving with children
Before you finally start moving with children to a new home, ask yourself what activities you can do at the new place. Research where the best parks and playgrounds are and take the little ones for a walk in the first few days after moving in. Let them explore the neighbourhood and spend more time with them. You may not have everything arranged in your home, but a few messy boxes are no more important than your children's joy.
Get to know your neighbours and if they have children too, organise a get-together. This way, your children will make new friends faster and the sadness of old peers will diminish. Organise a visit to your local library, museums and sweet shops. Start a new tradition with the little ones and show them how nice the new place is. Try to do all this before they start attending the new school or nursery.
After reading our suggestions, we hope you feel more prepared for moving with children. Regardless of the situations you find yourself in, be calm and treat the little ones with care and understanding. To make the whole process smoother and more organised, trust professionals. Movega Removals can ensure you are well organized in meeting your family's needs. Schedule a free consultation with us through our contact form or chat bot.
