Moving is stressful. No one will argue that! But have you ever consider what moving might feel like for your kiddos? Kids are pretty resilient, but it’s reasonable to expect that moving and taking them out of their normal routine may shake them up a bit.
Here are some tips of things to explain to your kids before you move to help ease their fears & hopefully get them excited about it:
- Let them know that they aren’t leaving their toys behind! You could even have them help you pack them up into boxes labeled with their name on them so they know they can expect to find them all at the new house.
- Talk to them about their new room at the new house that they’ll love. Let them pick out the paint color they want their walls to be or the decor/theme for their new room to get them even more excited!
- If your child has to move school districts, reassure them that they will have teachers who will be able to help them/look out for them. And that they’ll make new friends! If they’re not moving schools, remind them that nothing will change with that!
- Show them pictures of the new house often. Talk about the memories you’ll make there and the fun things you’ll do once you move in.
- If you’re moving to a new town, look up places they’ll look forward to checking out, such as parks, libraries, museums, shopping locations, etc.
- Make sure to get the contact info for all of their current friends that they hope to stay in contact with after they move.
Most importantly – allow them to feel what they are going to feel. They don’t have to be excited, they’re allowed to feel sad. Whatever they’re feeling, reassure them that it’s okay and you are there for them. Remind them that you’re a family and as a family, you get through everything TOGETHER. They need to know that you’re committed to helping them navigate this new territory, too.
If you’ve moved with kids and have any other tips, I’d love for you to share them in the comments below!
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