You’ve been weighing the pros and cons and have finally decided your family is moving to a new home. Maybe you are moving for a new job, to be closer to relatives, or for other reasons, but now that the decision is made you are looking forward to the future with anticipation. But if you’ve got kids, they may not see the positive side of relocation. For them, the strain of leaving behind friends, a familiar school, and a routine they are comfortable with can put a dark cloud over the moving truck. Use these tips to make the move easier on kids and hopefully ease the stress on the entire family.
5 tips to help kids adjust to the move
1.)Keep talking. Have regular family meetings to discuss why the move has to happen, and to let children ask questions and express concerns. Spend time with children individually too, to provide an opportunity for them to talk about things that they may be worried about but don’t want to bring up in front of siblings.
2.) Time the move. If possible, many families try to wait and move children in between school years. That way their first day at the new school will be at the beginning of the year, making the transition easier. They may also have time to make some new friends in the neighborhood before the school year starts.
3.) Give children some choice in the new home. If they can’t go house hunting, at least show them pictures of some housing options and get their opinions. When a new house is chosen, let them choose a paint color, and maybe some new accessories for their room so they have something to look forward to.
4.) Look into things to do in the new town. Whether your child is a fan of libraries, museums, or sports teams, research the area together online and plan some activities to do when you get there.
5.) Make a plan to keep kids connected to their friends. Keeping current friendships strong will make the transition easier, so allow phone calls, texting, and set up a date for a visit to look forward to until new friendships are formed.
Let children be involved in the packing process. Children may become more attached than usual to their material possessions. You may not be concerned about their stuffed animal collection or video game system, but to them these things are important. Allow them to pack a box of important items that they can keep with them during the move.
Moving can be a stressful time, and while adults have to deal with the logistics of moving, children are often struggling with their own feelings on the subject. If your family is looking to move into a new home or sell the one there in, contact me We can help you with some of the details so you have more time to focus on your children and their emotional adjustment to the move.
Michelle Manter
Realtor/Team Lead
Manter realty Group of Keller Williams
860-716-2227
michellemanter@gmail.com
