Moving house can be a hugely stressful and emotionally exhausting process. If there are children involved, then this can be even more likely. After all, children have less of a say in how the move unfolds, and they might be confused and even angry about it.
So, how can we lessen the impact on the young people involved in a house move? There are a few key tips worth thinking about.
Talk About the Move Early and Often
If you don’t want your children to be surprised by the move, you’ll keep them informed. Make sure that you don’t conceal it in an attempt to spare them hurt feelings; this approach will end up doing more harm than good.
Let Children Help with the Planning
As we’ve mentioned, children might not feel as though they’re in control of their situation – and this can be very disorienting. You might give your children a say in whether you move into a brand new home, or an older one. Or, you might restrict their involvement to smaller decisions.
Get them involved with the planning, and give them responsibilities, and a stake in what’s going on. If nothing else, putting them in charge of packing their own stuff might distract them from the chaos around them.
Visit the New Area Together
When you’re moving to a new neighbourhood, or even a new country, it’s worth first getting acclimatised with the new area. A few visits can help you to do this. This might mean spending a few minutes in the local park, taking a walk around the neighbourhood, or arranging to spend a day in the new school.
Keep Routines Consistent
During a house move, life can often feel a little bit up in the air. As such, it’s often a good idea to cling to routine where you can find it. Make sure that you’re still having dinner together as a family, and that you’re still taking the kids to any after-school activities they enjoy.
Make Packing a Family Activity
During your move, you’ll have a lot of different jobs to do. The more you can involve your family in the work, the more invested they’ll feel in the move. We’ve already mentioned how you can entrust your kids with packing their own stuff – but you might also involve them in the project of packing up everything else in the house, too.
Create a Comforting First Night Box
The first night in a new house can feel a little overwhelming and strange. If you pack a special box containing all of the items that make your kids feel comfortable and at home, then you might be able to lessen this effect.
Into this box might be placed a range of toys, creative supplies, books, and other essential items.
Help Them Personalise Their New Room
For children to acclimatise to their new surroundings, they’ll often need a space they can call their own. If the bedroom can be personalised with the right colours, furniture, and artwork, then your children might have a much easier time settling into it.
