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When I was younger, we moved a few times before finally settling in \u201cthe family home.\u201d Looking back on it, it was both exciting and unsettling.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, it was kind of fun to get a new bedroom, rearrange all my toys, and play with my cat in a different rec room. I hardly had to think about packing, and unpacking was like exploring my own stuff. (Maybe I was a boring kid?) There were new parks and stores nearby and new neighbours to meet.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it was fairly stressful. I\u2019d have to learn a different route to walk to school. I had to get used to different quirks in the house, and convince the cat that the world was not ending; we were just in a different home. The new parks may not have been a good substitute for the parks I knew and loved, and our new neighbours could be ones to avoid. (I definitely had a few of those.)<\/p>\n
Of course your kids will be on your mind as you decide to move and close on the purchase of your new home, but having a strategy in helping them cope with the move is a must. Children understand the world around them\u2014what they can see and hear themselves\u2014so a move disrupts that in ways we don\u2019t always appreciate.<\/p>\n
Here are a few ways you can include your children in the moving process and help them transition from one home to the next.<\/p>\n
Be open and honest<\/strong><\/p>\n As soon as the purchase of your new home is final, have a talk with your kids. Children (like us) can take some time to process large changes, so giving them a period of time to digest this information is a good start. Try your best to highlight what won\u2019t be changing, as well as the big positives to the new house, school, or neighbourhood.<\/p>\n Allow them to spend time with their friends<\/strong><\/p>\n While you may be busy packing and preparing, your kids will be thinking about how their lives are going to change. Children spend a lot of time with their friends at school, so if you\u2019re moving to a new school zone, allow them a lot of time to visit. While it may seem less important to you, as friends move in and out of kids\u2019 lives, your child will only see the gravity of losing friends and being alone. Arrange play dates and excursions when possible, and assure them they\u2019ll be able to see their old friends even after the move.<\/p>\n Introduce them to their new area<\/strong><\/p>\n In order for a child to visualize their new life, you\u2019ll have to show it to them. Take a drive to see the new house and spend some time exploring the neighbourhood with them. Visit a local shop or diner. Show them their new school. Create as much excitement as possible so your kid actually looks forward to the move rather than thinking about everything that will be missing.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s not possible to show them physically\u2014if the move is far away, for example\u2014show them photos and videos online. A move over a great distance can be scary for anyone, so lots of preparation is necessary.<\/p>\n