There comes a time in life when you have to leave everything behind (besides your household belongings) and find a new home in a distant city or country. Perhaps you’re doing so to join a spouse, or maybe you’re in search of greener pastures. You could also be doing so out of personal circumstances such as after divorce when you need a fresh start, or you simply want to get closer to family.
Whichever the reasons for your big move, the kids might be affected in various ways, making it important to prepare them adequately beforehand.
Read on for four incredible ways to prepare your kids for a long-distance move.
How Long-Distance Move Might Affect Children
A long-distance move can be a difficult and stressful time for kids – and in various ways. Relocating after staying in the same place for years will mean leaving behind their friends and the environment they’re acclimatized with. The kids may also have to deal with a lot of changes, from adjusting to the new home to enrolling in a new school and getting settled in a new community where they probably have no friends.
Depending on their age, children will often find this overwhelming, not to mention how physically taxing the move itself can get for everyone at times. However, there are a few ways to prepare your young ones for a long-distance move and make it less stressful for them.
Getting Your Kids Prepared For a Long-Distance Move
1. Break the News: Help Them Understand the Reasons for the Move
While you always have to be tough about major decisions in the home, kids are also part of the family, and their voices should be heard. And since it will affect their lives in a way, it’s good to keep your kids in the know about your intended long-distance move.
While they might feel a little frustrated at first, doing so as early as possible can help them adjust gradually, and even give them time to say goodbye to their close buddies. Talk about all the different aspects of the move with them, such as packing, saying goodbye to friends, and adjusting to a new home.
At the very least, make sure they understand why you have to move, and how it will benefit the entire family.
2. Introduce Them to Your Moving Company
Of course, one of the first important steps when planning a long-distance move is to choose a reputable mover.
Once you’ve weighed your options and picked one of the best long-distance moving companies that will suit your needs, it’s a good idea to let the kids meet your mover. Good movers are more likely to be friendly to kids and can even help grant assurance to the young fellows that all their playthings will be safe throughout the trip.
3. Consider a Road Trip to See the New Home and School Together
As much as the thought of leaving their lovely home can be scary for them at times, most kids love trips and having fun outdoors. This is something you can leverage to help make your kids excited about the move.
Organize a short trip where you’ll spare some time to visit the new home and their new school. You can even have a small tour around the neighborhood.
At the school, you can even let them meet their new teacher or one of the friendly students there. Especially if their favorite activities and amenities are available, your kids might just find the new place cool (or cooler), perhaps enough to feel less overwhelmed by the move.
4. Involve Them in the Packing Process
Especially as they approach their teenage years, kids abhor the feeling of being left out. They love being involved in things.
All while making moving a little easier, letting kids participate in the packing process is a good way to make them feel valued as they adjust to reality. If you’re parenting younger kids, it can be wise to delay packing up their toys and essentials, letting them do it on their own when they feel ready to.
And voila! Thanks to the above tips, moving to a distant location doesn’t have to be extremely terrifying just because you have kids. Just don’t forget to prepare them for any challenges they may face during or after the move, such as being homesick or feeling out of place.
Recent Comments