Easing the Transition – 10 Tips for Moving with Children

By M&M Super Moving
Published on September 6th, 2013

Lifting up roots and moving to a new home can be a chaotic and challenging time. With all the stress and details to planning a move, parents may not stop and realize how hard it can be on a child.

While often times a child may be excited and eager to move to a new place, it is also a very scary and stressful time for them. Depending on the age, a transition of this magnitude can have your child behaving worse than you have ever seen them.

Moving with children can take more time and effort to smooth the path to the new home. But taking the time can help your child adjust and settle quicker into their new environment. TLC shares some moving tips that can help you and your child make the move a little easier.

Include them in a family meeting – have a round table discussion, even if your table is square. Talk about why you are moving, show them you are excited and happy. Allow them to voice their fears and worries without brushing them off. Help them feel like they are being considered and heard at this important time.

Get their feedback on the new home – once you have narrowed it down to just a few houses, show them the houses and get their input. Help them to feel like they have a say in where they are going to be living. If close enough, let them go inside the house and take a tour. Or take an online virtual tour if it is available. Show them pictures and ask them to give you three things they like about each one. Keep them involved in the process once the home is selected.

Clear the clutter out – when planning a move is an excellent time to get rid of unwanted or broken items. Help your child clean out their clothes and toys. If you are donating them to a charity, let the child come with you and explain where their stuff is going. Don’t force them to give up items they are not ready to part with.

Let them help plan a moving sale – having a moving sale is a great way to cut down on the number of items you have to move, as well as make a few bucks for something special. Have a family meeting to decide what the money should be used for. Maybe paint for the house, or a special item the family has wanted, such as a flat screen television.

Learn about the new area – helping your child learn about where they are going can take some of the fear out of the move. Much of the stress from the change is the fact that they are going someplace unknown. Go online and find out facts about where you are moving to and share them with your child. But avoid exaggerating or over-selling can set your child up for disappointment when they get there.

Create a floor plan – you don’t need to make drafting quality plans to create a floor plan. Draw out the layout of the new home and let your child help you plan out where things will go. Give them a drawing just of their room and let them set it up over and over before the move. But don’t just limit them to their own room, let them help you create a whole new home for the family.

Visit the new home before the move – if it isn’t too far away you can plan a whole day around going through the new home, visiting the new school area, finding local interests, visiting the library, and getting to know where you are going. Even if the move is a bit further away, it may be worth it to arrive a few days early to settle in and get to know the area before the moving van arrives.

See you soon instead of goodbye party – one of the biggest challenges for a child when moving is leaving behind family and friends. They may be upset about not seeing them again or saying goodbye. Instead, explain that they can stay in touch even after the move. At the party be sure to make arrangements for everyone to stay in touch through e-mails, texts, phone calls, even video chat.

Mark it on the map – showing children on a map where they are going, drawing out the routes, and showing how to get there can help them visualize in their minds where they will be. It can also help plan the trip to the new home, as well as trips back to see friends and family. Maybe pick one or two interesting things along the way to stop and check out.

Play tourist for the day – now that the move is done and the boxes are being unpacked, it’s time to take a break and play tourist. Plan a day around the new neighborhood. Get local papers or area guides and find some fun activities in the new neighborhood. Plan some outings or activities that include things specific to the new area. Help the child settle in and grow to love their new home.

While children are resistant to change in general, if you take the time to help them with the transition they are very adaptable and will soon be bouncing around the new home like they have lived there forever. Starting off on the right foot can take a little more time and effort, but it will help ensure that your child is happy in their new home.

When planning your move, you want to take just as much care with your belongings. We are committed to providing you with excellent moving services at reasonable costs. Get a free online quote today!

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