Well reading through one of the many places I find information from time to time, I came across this little quick article regarding moving and kids. Now I believe when of the best times to move and you have kids is during the school year, especially at Christmas break. This way when summer time comes, the kids know everyone and have someone to play with. If you have ever been the new kid on the block, and had moved during the summer, you know how hard it is to meet other kids. They keep their distance or may even be on vacation so you have no one to play with. So I felt I should share this short article for you all that are moving and have kids. So enjoy!
Moving with children requires a special effort. Whether your relocation takes you across town or across the country, a move is scary for a child. A child's world centers around friends and home and to change either or both is unsettling, if not just plain frightening.
Talk to your children about the move. Regardless of their ages, ask for suggestions and input about the move and be ready to explain why 'staying right here' isn't an option. Encourage them to express their feelings and don't dismiss even the smallest concerns. By addressing each worry as a valid, important issue, you can increase your child's sense of security.
Talk about the reasons for the move. If your child doesn't accompany you to choose a new home, take pictures of the new house, the new school, the new neighborhood and his or her new room. These visual aids go a long way to comforting and assuring the child that things will be fairly normal and safe on the other end.
Watch for signs of stress in your child. Children will look to you for ways to cope. When the stress of the move gets to be too much, step back and take a break. By acknowledging your own stress and finding appropriate ways to relieve it, you'll be a terrific role model for your kids.
Let each child prepare a memory box. Let them collect notes and pictures from friends, teachers, coaches. Take pictures of their favorite places. Plan to store the memory box in a safe place in your new home. Memory boxes assure a link to the past and provide fun memories no matter how many years pass.
Be sure to include the kids in your selling plan. It's important that they understand your goals. And it's important to understand why special care must be taken to keep things tidy. Be sure that they are aware that you might have to leave the house for a few hours with short notice if a buyer wants to tour your home. Explain this process carefully to small children, especially. The thought of strangers being in your home when you're not there can be unnerving.
Despite your best efforts to prepare your child for the move, you'll may notice signs of stress and even regressive behavior. Always take time to acknowledge the child's difficulties right then and there. Stop everything and remove the child from the situation and give him or her a chance to talk about what's on their mind. Don't put it off and chance forgetting about it amid all the moving chores at hand.
Above all, be patient with your children and certainly with yourself. Don't expect things to be perfect at first. Change is difficult for everyone. If you address problems as they arise, you'll avoid a lot of issues later on.