Not only can moving to a new home be stressful for you, but it can also be tough on the children. If you’ve moved beyond your neighborhood, out of town or across the country, your kids may have left their friends behind, are in a new environment, and likely will be starting at a new school in the coming days. Making new friends and leaving the old ones behind can be a bit stressful for a child. They’re essentially alone in a new environment at school for the first time all over again! Here are a few ways you can make it easier on your child or children
Keep Your Kids In The Loop
From the time you get ready to make the decision to move, keep your kids involved. They can actually be a big help if they are made part of the process. Meaning, letting them know where you are moving to, some of the positive points and highlights, getting them to help you pack, unpack, etc. pack their toys in “their boxes” so that they can unpack them themselves, keeping them occupied so you can put your dishes in the cupboard for the first time without distraction. This way they play a vital role in their minds to moving into the new home, helping to make it their own.
Make it a Special Family Growth Opportunity
Kids respond to the news of a move different from one another. This is just a fact. Some will be excited for your move south (if let’s say you’re moving from New Jersey to North Carolina, Georgia, or Florida, as many of our clients have done), and some will be more resistant to a move out of the neighborhood leaving friends behind. It will be your job to get your children pumped up about your move to your new home, creating excitement for the new adventure they’re going on.
One way to create some excitement, depending on their age, is to let them pick the color of their new room, or pick out that racecar or dollhouse bed for their new room. This could ease their mind and distract them from the thought of leaving their best friend in first grade behind.
Maybe you’ve been thinking about a pet, such as a kitten, and think the new home is the right place, and the distraction may be the right time to do so for your child. Or, maybe you’re moving to a new home with a pool, which is sure to get your kids excited for summer fun.
Make it a Game
If your children are old enough, you may have had them memorize your home address. They’re getting a new one, so you may want to turn the memorization of the new address into a game with treats and prizes to get them interested in learning their new address…
Tour the New Area (A Couple of Times)
It’s likely you moved to a new neighborhood in a new town. Very rarely does someone move two doors down from their old home, unless you’re moving from a smaller apartment to a larger one in the same building? If you’ve moved to a new town or a new neighborhood, it’s likely that your children are a bit overwhelmed with the simple things, like getting off the school bus at the right home. Make it a point to find out what the route is their school bus will be using, and drive that route to and from school a couple of times. This will familiarize both you and them with their route so they are more comfortable on their first day at the new school. It will be rough enough on them getting on a school bus with a bunch of kids they don’t know.
Take them to the closest playground or park. Show them something they can look forward to in a semi-familiar environment. Every kid likes a playground if they’re of that age group.
Ask them to pay close attention when you are touring the area, and try to have them navigate you from place to place or on the route home.
If you are expanding, downsizing, looking to declutter your office, etc. feel free to reach out to Hercules Movers, Inc. and ask us about our storage space for your items. We’ll even move them to our facility for you. You can contact us at 732-324-2500 or fill out our form here: https://www.herculesmoversinc.com, and we will provide you with a no-obligation competitive quotation.
