Prepare your kids before moving

On every stress factors list, moving is listed on the top.

It isn’t easy for the parents, and it’s even more difficult for the children, especially those who are too young to understand the reasons for such a big change in their lives. So you need to prepare your kids before moving.

Even if you are moving to the house of your dreams, the entire process is usually so complex that you will need a big break after you are done.

Therefore, it is highly important to do the prep right in order to go through this period with minimized stress. Below is the basic checklist for these situations.

Do not hesitate to tell your children about moving.

The longer you wait, the less time you have to make things go smoother.
Of course, you will go through a number of phases after you give them this information, from denial to panic, so prepare for some big questions your child may have.

Even though these questions can be exhausting, it’s still better to go through that leaving all the stress for the last day. That’s why you need to prepare your kids before moving.

Set all your child’s favorite stuff aside.

Children get easily attached to certain objects, from toys to pillows, from the fridge magnet to their favourite towel.

When you start packing, you can start with your child’s favourite items. Pack them in a special box all together so your child would know that you don’t intend leaving their things behind. If you have a toddler, things might be a bit more difficult – if they see you packing all their favorite stuff in a box, make sure to clearly explain that you are not throwing their stuff away.

Make more memories.

Try to explain to your child that they will always have your current house, at least in their memories.

Take more photos and videos, spend more time around the house as a family and do stuff that will make you remember it in the most positive light.

The fact that you all know that you will leave your current home soon may actually inspire you to better use the time you have left there.

Introduce your child to the new home ahead.

If it is possible, take a short tour around your future home before you start the moving process. That will help prepare your kids before moving.

If it’s not possible, showing them some photos could also be as effective as a tour. It is important for your child to get familiar with the new space as soon as possible, so every hint of the future home could be helpful.

Perhaps your child’s reactions won’t be positive, and that’s why introducing them to the new space in advance is good – you buy yourself some more time to explain how the new home will work in their favour.

Acknowledge your child’s resistance.

There is a variety of negative emotions your child might express as they find out that you are getting a new home, from pure fear to seemingly irrational angst.

These feelings won’t disappear if you tell them to stop doing that, regardless of your child’s age. Toddlers may be in fear because they don’t really understand what’s going on while teens might be in fear exactly because they know what’s going on – they know that they are abandoning their old life and starting a new one.

Build up to more positive emotions slowly, starting from showing understanding of their negative emotions.

Have a goodbye party.

Moving is more than relocating physically. By moving, you are also switching your social circles. As much as we would like to think that we will keep old friendships as fresh as they are today, sometimes it doesn’t go according to our desires. The kids can feel it as well.

It would be great to host a party some time before moving out, invite your neighbors and friends and say goodbye properly.

Of course, you should also continue partying with a house-warming party as soon as you settle in your new place!

Try to exclude your child from the very process of moving.

If there is any chance to ask someone to take care of your child on the day of moving out and in, do it. You will have so many other things to be focused on, and probably go through chaos. It’s best if you can protect your children from such an atmosphere, especially if they are really young.

It’s a bit different thing with teens – if you feel like they are ready, maybe they could help with some minor things around moving.

Finally, home is not about physical space but about family. Remind your child that you will be there for them no matter where you live.

Have you had any experiences with moving? How did your kids take it? Feel free to share your story in the comments!