Moving into a new house can feel like a wonderful fresh start. It can re-energise your life in a number of ways, from giving you a renewed sense of pride in your home to incentivising you to go out and make new friends. However, there are some difficult aspect of moving, and children can experience these more than others.
Kids may worry that they won’t fit in to their new school or, if they are very young, they may simply be upset by a change of environment. If you are stressed by the move, your children will pick up on your feelings and become more anxious too. In light of this, here are some quick tips to help your moving experience be a little less stressful…
Sort out your new mortgage with a trusted provider to minimise the risk of any hiccups. When you know your finances are under control, you’ll feel a lot less stressed about the whole moving process.
Be open with your child. Explain to them that you are moving as far in advance of the move as possible. Although you may find this surprising as you’d think they would have too much time to dwell on the matter, experts advise that you give them plenty of opportunity to get used to the idea.
Tell your child the reasons for the move, if you think it will be helpful.
Make your new home as familiar as possible. This could be as simple as arranging their toys in the same way as in your old home, or it could involve opting for a similar colour scheme throughout your new property. You’ll be able to judge your child’s need for familiarity by comparing their behaviour to past situations, and by the reaction they have when you tell them you are moving.
Join a parent and toddler group to help you settle in to a new area. You can find out about groups in your area here.
good post
This is a great post and really timely for me, as we will be moving with our children soon. I especially like the advice to tell the children as soon as possible, because I think that will help them process the move.
lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com