4 Tips for Moving Homes With Your Child
The time has come for your next great family adventure—moving homes! Whether your household is growing, you’re chasing a new career, or you’re relocating for better access to family, this exciting day can come with its fair share of challenges and stressors. If you’re not quite sure where to begin or how to welcome your kids into this new chapter, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to explore the basics of moving homes with your children.
Organize Your Household
Facing a family move can be a big concept for kids, especially if they’ve only ever known one home. It’s important you help them understand “why” the transition is happening, speak openly about things, and allow them to ask plenty of questions to feel more comfortable. In your own preparations, be sure to schedule enough time for your kids to properly close out of their lives in their current home and town. Closure can look different for everyone, but some key components include finalizing school and extracurricular activities, and planning for the future.
Similar to looking ahead, you can empower your children through this transition by tangibly involving them in the decluttering and packing process. Not only is this a necessary step for anyone moving homes, but it also gives them control and responsibility over their belongings. Feel free to incentivize this process by letting your kids personalize their new bedrooms and remember to always approach these moments with patience and enthusiasm!
Plan Ahead
Consider creating a game plan with your kids that allows them to keep in touch with friends after leaving while also embracing their new life. This includes finding out how and when these interactions will be possible (parent collaboration can help here!) and discovering what school and other activities will look like in their new town. Other fun things to find on your planning quest can include what amenities your new home or town offers and what family and friends might live nearby.
It’s also important to eliminate second hand stressors from affecting your children by having your own ducks in a row when looking to move. Consider getting preapproved for a mortgage to know what you can spend on a home and be sure to find a neighborhood that not only meets your safety standards, but fits your family’s lifestyle. Taking preparatory actions ahead of time can help streamline the process for you from search, to purchase, to move and will allow you the peace of mind to remain emotionally available and supportive for your children. Have a plan of action for how you will balance house preparation with your regular routines prior to–and during–the move and line up the help you need to get the job done. Renting storage lockers and vans, hiring a moving crew, or recruiting friends and family to help with packing or childcare can all be of benefit to an otherwise hectic day.
Pack Moving Day Go-Bags
You can prioritize your children on moving day by preparing them for where they will spend that chunk of time, who they get to see, and what they might get to do. Packing go-bags with their favorite snacks, activities and general care items can help eliminate calls home on moving day while also ensuring that they’re cared-for and entertained on their trip or day-away. Have daily-use items packed and delivered to your new home first to ensure that beds, food, cooking supplies, clothing, and hygiene items are available immediately. This will ensure your routine is functional, even if the rest of your belongings still need to be organized. It’s important to establish a routine with your kids and allow them to create a positive association with their new environment. Consider creating a chore chart that not only reinforces personal responsibility, but also allows them to get better acquainted with the home and even learn money basics, if earning an allowance.
Make Time to Visit Old and Explore New
When circumstances allow, it’s vital that kids are able to go and visit their old stomping grounds to see friends and family. Maintaining these connections can benefit both your child’s transitional phase and developmental abilities when forming relationships.
Whether it’s before, during, or after moving, take time as a family to explore your new town for what it has to offer. You’ll be putting down new roots here and making plenty of memories, so embracing those first moments will be an early step in your exciting new direction!
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