5 Tips on Moving into a New House with Children

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According to a report, moving is one of the stressful events in a person’s life. So, we can imagine how more difficult it would be for little ones. But don’t worry too much, there are a few things you can do to make the moving process easy for you and your kids.
 
Here are the 5 tips to help you and your kids in moving to a new house
 
First, talk to your kids and get their perspective
 
As early as possible, talk to the smallest member of the family about the family’s plan to move to a new home. This will give kids ample time to absorb the idea of moving to a new place, and will give parents an opportunity to ask what their kids feel about the idea. Try to understand your child’s feelings. Do they feel sad about saying goodbye to the home they grew up in? Do they feel anxious about leaving their friends? If you have a much younger child such as a toddler, they may express their stress to massive changes through tantrums. Patience and understanding can help parents guide their kids on how to navigate their emotions. 
 
Second, involve your kids in the moving plan
 
Make your kids feel that their ideas and feelings are important by involving them in the house selection. It’s a great way to make them feel that their opinion is valued, and you might be surprised by what they can manage to contribute based from their perspective. You can tag them along in open houses or when visiting potential homes. You can ask them what they like to have in the new house, what they see in the neighbourhood and what are the things they didn’t like. The experience can also help replace their anxiety with excitement as they see new and fun things they can do in their new community. If it isn’t possible to bring your kid along before moving, you can take pictures and tell them what the place is like, if there are good schools nearby and fun places to go to on the weekends.
 
Third, pack your kids’ stuff last
 
After packing, the house will look entirely different from before. It may even start to feel empty and will lose its homey feeling. Sadly, there’s no other way to go about it, since you’d have to pack all items eventually and prepare for moving day. There is one thing you can control though, and that is to pack your kid’s stuff last. You can clear out your kid’s bedroom last so that all the familiar or favourite items are still around to help lessen their anxiety. When the day comes for you to pack their stuff, try to involve them as much as you can. Give them a box of their own where they can place all their toys and even put a special label on. During moving day, make sure to place their box last in the truck and first to unload. This would make it easier for you to locate your children’s items and use it to help them feel at home in the new house.
 
Fourth, make the first few days soothing
 
Upon arriving to your new home, try to create a familiar surrounding for your child as much as possible. You can unpack their box first and let them use their belongings right away. It helps them stick to their usual routine and give them a sense of security. It might be tricky since there will be plenty of things to do during the first few days, but try to be consistent with your child’s schedule. Take them for walks and eat meals at the usual time. Spending quality time and giving attention to your child can help ease their worries.
 
Fifth, gently help your kid settle in
 
Now that you’ve moved into your new home, you might feel the need to finish all the chores as soon as possible. As adults, we want things to be “over and done with”. Because of that, we might have the tendency to make all the decisions and all things in our control. However, this might make your kid feel left out. To avoid that, you can make your child feel that they are involved when you let them help choose new furnishings, wall color, and beddings for their room. Give them the chance to explore the new house and give them an idea of fun activities they can do for each part of the house. Introduce your kids to the neighbours and maybe they’d meet another kid their age. After making new friends, your child will definitely start to enjoy their new home.   
 
So, these are just a few tips to help you and your kid in the moving process. Young ones are often most affected, partly because they are not part of the decision-making process in moving to a new home. Still, there are ways to lessen their stress and anxiety. One important thing is to make your kid feel valued and involved throughout the entire moving process.
 
If you have moved with children, I would like to know how you did it and share your tips to make the move easier.
 
If you have any questions or need help buying your home, I can help. You can contact me at 647-834-9928 or send an email to sukhinvasara@gmail.com