Even if you’re moving down the street, the relocation can be very stressful for the whole family. Parents are often busy with all the planning, packing the entire home, organizing the relocation of all family members to the new house, etc. Sometimes, they don’t recognize the signs of stress their children show or simply don’t know how to deal with it. Despite being young, kids can get very emotional about leaving their old house, friends, etc. To make things easier for the whole family, we’ve gathered a list of tips on how to help your kid cope with moving. 

Make sure you can deal with moving first.

It’s not possible to help your kids go through a challenging period if you’re not feeling well yourself. Be sure to deal with the moving process the right way, and try to minimize the stress as much as possible. One way to avoid stress is to organize the move in advance, so there’s no rush and last-minute pressure. Also, finding the right people for the job comes as a massive relief in the stressful moving procedure. Plan every step months before the moving day, and hire experienced professionals to help you out. This way, your relocation will go smoothly, and you can dedicate time to help your kid deal with the stress. 

Consider these things when planning to relocate your family

Talk about the move

It’s important to announce the move to your kids as early as possible. This will give them enough time to process it and prepare for the moving day. Be realistic about his talk, and expect the kids to express anger and sadness. These emotions are completely normal, even when moving to a much better place. That’s why parents should stock on patience and give the children time to accept the fact that the family is moving.

Show your kid the advantages of the move.

One of the best ways to help your kid cope with moving is to present all the good things about the relocation. This should include visiting the new neighborhood and all the cool locations near the new home. Don’t forget to check out the new school, too, so your child knows what to expect. Have a positive tone when approaching new things and point out all the benefits of relocating to the new area. Plan the future routines so your kid can realize how great the new life chapter will be.

Respect their sadness

Your kid will probably be very sad about leaving old friends, a favorite playground, etc. Respect their grief and help them say goodbye to all these things. Visit their friends together, or have a farewell party where they can exchange addresses, take photos, have fun, and say goodbye. Ask your child what the things they’ll miss the most are. Then, make sure they say goodbye to them appropriately. This will serve as a closure and surely help with coping with all the changes. 

Involve your kids in the moving process

By being part of the moving process, kids often deal with grief successfully. Let them participate in making decisions related to the move. The most exciting part is probably preparing their new room. Let your kid pick the colors and furniture, decide on where items go, and so on. By letting them participate in the moving activities, you will make them feel more special and let them acquire a more positive attitude.

How can packing help your kid cope with moving?

Another important step when relocating is surely packing for the move. Even though it might cause some stress for you, it can actually help your kid deal with negative feelings. They can help you with the decluttering of their room. However, be careful about this – maybe leaving too many items behind can make them even more depressed. Let them pick the things they are bringing to their new room and pack them into boxes. To make the packing process more interesting, let your kid decorate their own boxes by writing or painting something on them.  Being busy and creative will help them overcome the negative feelings related to the move. These boxes can go last into the truck so that you can unload and unpack them first. 

Moving day

When the time comes to move out of your old home, be prepared for travel time, as well as the unpacking process. Pack some snacks and games for the road. Also, plan some exciting activities for your kids while you’re unpacking. If you don’t have a lot of time to unpack on the first night, make this time enjoyable for everybody – order some food and play a favorite movie on the laptop. 

Keep the promises

It is crucial to keep the promises you’ve made before the move. These include calling your kids’ friends after you move in, furnishing the room the way you agreed, and visiting the attractions in the city. Building trust with your kid is another way to make them feel secure and comfortable in the new environment.

Be supportive after the move, too.

As we mentioned, you can expect sadness and anger as a reaction to moving. However, these can continue after the move, along with some other insecurities. Therefore, to help your kid cope with moving, try to be supportive while they get accustomed to the new environment. The comfort and support of parents are vital for children. They might need to deal with the new school and make new friends, where you can be of great help.