Inside: How to Keep the Kids Calm During a Move. Collaborative post.
Moving home can be a daunting process for all involved. None so more than your children. They potentially may have never moved before, or even considered it something that they may need to do. That means you have to be extra vigilant of their feelings and ensure that you keep them up to date on the progress.
That absolute last thing you want is for them to feel disconnected from you and the experience of moving, as this could lead to resentment. Here are a few ways to keep the kids calm during the moving process.
Inform them as Early as Possible
You should look to approach your children in a time-appropriate manner. After you have definitely decided to move, but well before the actual move date. The children will most likely need time to adjust to the idea of moving, as it may well be stressful for them.
This is especially true if you are going to be moving across state or to a whole different state, and their whole lives will change. They will want to say goodbye to friends, and you need to have the time to make them see the benefits and opportunities of such as move.
However, don’t them so far in advance of the move it is impossible for them to visualize it. Perhaps a couple to a few months.
Involve them Where you Can
A great way to ease their fear is to make it seem less alien. Perhaps you could take them to the home to have a look at it before the move. Ask them how they would like the rooms done up, paints, decor, etc. Maybe allow them to decorate their own bedrooms.
If you have not chosen a house yet, could you get them to join you in the house hunt? Maybe ask them if they have anything they would like to see in a new house. Ask them how you can make it as easy as possible for them. There are so many ways you can get them involved in the moving process, and the more they are involved, the less scary it will seem. In fact, it will make it more exciting.
Ensure you are ApproachableAs the moving day looms closer, you may feel the stress mount. That is, of course, if you haven’t planned sufficiently. If you want to be as approachable as you can throughout the whole process, you need to make sure that you have everything organized.
To do this, you need to list everything you need to do as soon as possible and ticking things off in a time-appropriate manner. Make sure you have the moving company booked well before the event. You should also begin the decluttering and packing process with plenty of time too.
All this will mean you will remain calm, and the kids will remain calm. Remember, you want to be as open and approachable as you can be to answer any question they have. The only way to do this is by eliminating the stress of moving by effective and efficient planning and action.