With children, moving is an important life event not only for them, but for you as well. Think of how a child would feel emotionally and mentally knowing they have to leave their friends, their surroundings, and even their routines. There is no doubt that they will feel a mix of emotions from stress to anger to plain helplessness. If you wish to calm your child’s nerves regarding the move, getting them involved in the process can help calm them down immensely. In this guide, we share comprehensive tips that parents need to take in order to make moving with children more enjoyable for everyone. Taking the right approach can ensure that tackling the move will bring you all together as a family, along with the help from professionals like Apex Moving System.
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Talk Early, Talk Often: Start the Conversation With Empathy
Preparing your kids emotionally for the move is the most important step in making the experience a positive one. Start the conversation as early as possible to give them time to process the change. Children, depending on their age, will have different questions and emotional responses. Being honest, empathetic, and encouraging will help them understand the reason for the move and feel included in the decision-making process.
Prompting the move gives your children the chance to ask questions, voice their feelings, and share any concern they might have. This not only shows that you acknowledge their feelings, but also creates a foundation for further discussion. Safeguard their right to feel nervous or sad and encourage them to share what makes them feel excited or worried. Open lines of communication further and fuller manage anxiety around the unknown, making the transition smoother.
- Schedule a family meeting to outline the plans: Share the entire schedule along with the reasoning behind the set dates. Invite each child to share their opinions, thus ensuring that they are listened to. This enhances collaboration and trust.
- Address all questions in a positive and constructive manner: Do not simply dismiss their concerns. Instead, offer clear and age appropriate answers. For example, let them know that while there will be plenty of new children to befriend, the family will also explore the new neighborhood together.
Turn Packing Into a Fun Family Activity
Packing can be difficult and emotionally intense during a move, especially for children who may be quite attached to their belongings. Involving kids in the moving-related tasks is usually one of the best tips for moving with kids. Instead of treating it like a chore, create games around the bonding activity. Encourage your children to pack up their own rooms so they feel they have a greater role to play.
Allow them to customize their moving boxes, decide what items should be packed and donated, and even ask them what items they would like to be included in their “first night box.” Fun and functional boxes meant for children are available through Apex Moving System, which offers professional packing services.
- Allow kids to fill their own essentials box with snack items, plush toys, favourite books, pajamas, or anything else that helps them feel comforted. This personal box helps them feel safe, secure, and excited.
- Turn boxes into a canvas: Each box can be decorated with a child’s name and stickers or drawings to further personalize the moving boxes.
Visit the New Neighborhood Ahead of Time
To best prepare your children, alleviating their anxiety revolving the new environment is best tackled by familiarizing them with it beforehand. Take a trip to the binders school district and show them the new home, school, parks, etc. That way they have some visuals to look forward to.
If, for some reason, an in-person visit cannot be done, make use of tools such as Google Earth or social media channels to explore the area virtually. With these, images of the nearby pizza place, local playground, and other interesting spots can be shared to build excitement. This enables the children develop a sense of connection with the new place even before arriving.
- Explore new routines together: Walk or drive to school routes, visit the nearest grocery store, and look for extracurricular options. Kids love routine, so familiarity helps them feel grounded.
- Highlight fun local spots: Find museums, play zones, sports clubs, or libraries in the area and talk about weekend adventures the family can plan after settling in.
Assign Age-Appropriate Moving Tasks
Involving your children in the moving process gives them a sense of responsibility and purpose. Depending on their age, assign tasks that are appropriate and manageable. For younger kids, that could mean packing their toys or helping to clean a room. Older children can take on more significant responsibilities such as labeling boxes, organizing garage sales, or assisting with checklists.
Not only does this take some of the workload off your shoulders, but it also builds your children’s confidence. Apex Moving System can help guide families on how to safely involve kids in the process and provide tips on what responsibilities are appropriate by age.
- Create a moving checklist for kids: This might include packing books, folding clothes, or even organising a goodbye party. Kids appreciate having a checklist of their own.
- Celebrate completed tasks: Give positive reinforcement. Acknowledge their contributions with praise, small rewards, or a favorite activity to keep motivation high.
5. Plan a Special Goodbye and Welcome Activity
Leaving behind friends, schools, and familiar places can be emotional. Help your kids process the goodbye with intentional closure activities. Throw a small farewell party, make a scrapbook of memories, or write letters to friends. Creating space for them to say goodbye helps them honor their experiences and start fresh without resentment.
Once you’ve moved, plan a special welcome activity in your new home. It could be as simple as a pizza night on moving day or a scavenger hunt to explore the house. These meaningful rituals help kids feel that the transition isn’t just an end, but also an exciting new beginning.
- Create a memory box: Let kids collect small items, photos, or notes from their old home to preserve memories and keep them connected to their past.
- Celebrate the new chapter: Host a “Welcome Home” party with cake, balloons, and decorations to add joy and celebration to the first days in the new home.
