Maybe you’ve taken a new job or decided to move closer to your aging parents. Moving can be an exciting experience as well as a hectic one, and most children are not exactly thrilled by the news that they will be leaving their friends and their school behind. Kids as much as it may seem quite the opposite, thrive on routine, and changing everything they know about their lives can be a trying time, but it can also be a great time for family bonding and a brand new start. Moving to another state or even just moving across the DFW area can be an adventure for your kids when approached with the right attitude. With these tips, you can help your kids adjust to the move and even encourage their involvement.
1. Maintain a Positive Attitude
Children feed off the energy of the adults around them. It’s okay to share your concerns with your children, and even voice your bittersweet feelings over letting go of your old home, but if you dwell on any negative feelings or outwardly show a good deal of stress, your children will feed off of that energy and start dreading the move. Stay positive! Focus on the packing, teach your kids the importance of donating toys and clothes that they do not use anymore, and think of your plans for your new home.
2. Involve Your Kids
From going through their belongings and deciding what they no longer play with, your kids can feel a sense of ownership of the situation. By feeling involved, your kids will be increasingly excited about the new change in their lives. By letting your kids make signs and price tags for a yard sale or boxing up donations, let your kids have a part in the moving process.
3. Get Your Kids Excited About Their New Neighborhood
If your kids will be attending different schools after your move, encourage them to look up their new school, have them look into clubs or activities they would like to participate in, and even go for a visit to your new neighborhood if possible. Find trails, parks, and pizza places in your new neighborhood. If you can, make a day of exploring it.
4. Have an “Address Exchange” Party
Inviting friends, family, and neighbors over for an ‘Address Exchange’ party can get your kids excited about moving. By having your kids exchange addresses with their friends and classmates, they will both get excited about having penpals keeping in touch with old friends and memorizing their new addresses!
5. Take a Break
It’s easy to get focused on the move and the deadlines involved, but if things start to get stressful or the family is having stress-induced squabbles, give yourselves a break for a family night of relaxation. Order a pizza from the family’s favorite pizza shop, have a game night, or just relax and take a walk around your soon-to-be old neighborhood.
By keeping positive, involving your kids, and focusing on the excitement of the move, the whole family will have an easier transition from the old home to the new.