Moving With Children
Relocation Tips: How to Ease the Transition for Children
Moving With Children can be a very traumatic experience for everyone but especially for the children. Each age group has its own unique set of problems in facing the moving experience. The problem in many cases is that parents keep the children in the dark about the plans, making the assumption that it is of little concern or they won’t understand the details involved with the move. In reality, keeping them informed and allowing them to make some recommendations whenever possible, thus including them in the family moving plans can help make the adjustment must easier.
Moving with Preschoolers
For preschool children, the concern seems to be one of being left behind and separated from their parents. These fears can be allayed if you bring them something back from the new town if you have to go house hunting without them. Reassurances that “We will be together in our new home” can go a long way. The togetherness can be reinforced by giving them a job to do during the moving stage. They can be responsible for packing their favorite toys and labeling the boxes using crayons and stickers in colors of their choosing.
Moving Concerns of Elementary School Age Kids
Elementary school children, or those in the six to twelve year old age group tend to be more concerned about any changes that may occur in their daily lives. These concerns can be alleviated if you show them pictures and videos of their new home. It also helps if you can find locate in advance new places for the children to participate in their favorite activities, even if it’s simply locating a park, pizza party, or mall in the new neighborhood. If it is not too far to expect visits and play-dates with their old friends, that can be helpful too; ir the move is to a distant city or state the idea of letters can be introduced, quaint as that sounds in this age. Kids love receiving mail and can learn the joys of sending it.
Teenagers’ Fears About Moving
When moving with children in their teens keep in mind that a Teenagers’ biggest fear is fitting in, and this may cause them to react with anger to a move or even cause them to insist that they aren’t going. They may have concerns about making new friends and have fears of how things will be different in a new school. They may be overly concerned with the material things the kids in their new neighborhood will have. If you have an orientation trip take as many pictures and videos as possible, especially of the new schools where they will be going. Even if you are only moving to a neighborhood close to your current one, teenagers still have concerns if it means that they have to change schools. Staying in touch with their old friends will be something that offers reassurance, and whatever you can do to boost their self-image will help them face the uncertainties of the new environment.
Ease the Transition
Whether you are moving to a new neighborhood a few blocks away, across town, or are moving to a new city or state, the change will impact your children. Keep in mind that change, particularly change that impacts school and access to friends, is going to be traumatic for them. It is important for parents to understand what the kids are going through, and be proactive in helping ease the transition.
Here are several ideas for ways that you can ease the transition of moving to a completely new area easier for your children.
1. Provide young children with something to do during the trip to the new home.
2. Provide older children with a diary where they can record details of the trip and move.
3. Provide children of all ages their own address book and stationery so that they can keep in touch with their old friends.
4. If possible, take videos of the new home if the children won’t see it before the move. Arrive before the movers do so that the children can explore their new surroundings before the furniture arrives.
5. Give each child a chore to do based upon his/her age and abilities.
6. Take time to visit areas of interest in the new city as soon as possible.
7. If possible, visit the new schools and meet with the teachers before the first day of class.
8. Encourage your children to invite new friends to visit.
Hope this information helps when you are Moving With Children
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