Moving home can be a rather difficult experience for children. Not only will they say goodbye to their old friends and need to adjust to their new environment, but they may well want to settle into a new neighborhood and make new friends. Here’s how to help your children adjust to a new home with the minimum of stress.
Hire the Right Movers
The moving process can be more than a little stressful, especially if you need to uproot children to a new address. The right movers in Miami can, therefore, make the whole process much smoother, as they can pack and unpack every box, so you can focus on simply caring for your kids and making the experience fun, as they will handle the difficult tasks on your behalf.
Encourage Your Kids to Ask Questions
Kids are naturally inquisitive. Encourage them to ask as many questions as they want so that you can provide as much information about the move. Always answer them honestly to avoid disappointment. The more they know about their new home and neighborhood, the more prepared they will be for the big move.
Unpack Your Children’s Boxes First
You will have a million and one tasks to complete when moving into a new property, and the last thing you will want to do is to entertain bored children. You should therefore ask the movers to unpack your children’s boxes in their bedrooms first. This will allow them to spend their time personalizing their room, or they could simply have fun playing with their toys while you organize your space. The sooner they can make their room their own, the happier they will be.
Give Them a Tour of Their New Home
It doesn’t matter if your children have seen the house before, give your kids another tour of the home once you arrive. As the movers unpack, walk your children through the property to discuss what each room will be, and describe how it will look and how the family will use a room. You could even ask for their ideas on how you can improve the space. Finish the tour in their bedroom and encourage them to spend time in the room to get used to their new environment and ask for their input on how they would like to decorate the space.
Get Back into a Routine ASAP
Children and teenagers enjoy routine, yet their normal pattern could be disturbed when moving home. Try to return to your daily routine as soon as you arrive, which could normalize their new life. Stick to the same mealtimes, bedtimes, and playtimes to provide your children with consistency. This can make them feel more settled in the home.
Take Familiar Items with You
A new bedroom with new furniture and belongings could be a little overwhelming for your children. Even if you want to redecorate their bedroom, take familiar items from their old bedroom to get started. This will make help them to slowly settle into their new space, and eventually you can change their bedroom – and don’t forget to ask for their opinion on how to decorate it.
Walk Around the Neighborhood
You might know you have moved to a great neighborhood, but your children might take a little convincing. That is why you should take a walk around to explore the local parks, stores, and local attractions, which could make your son or daughter feel happy to live at their new address.
Play in the Park
Children often jump at the opportunity to go to the park, which can be a great way for them to make new friends. There are bound to be kids from across the neighborhood having fun in the park, which will give them a chance to get to know other children. It will also provide you with an opportunity to connect with your neighbors.
Organize Play Dates
Make time to introduce yourself to your neighbors to not only feel apart of the community, but to identify if there are kids your children could play with. If so, you could potentially arrange a play date with other parents, so your son or daughter can spend time with other boys and girls. Forging friendships early on could make your children feel happier and more settled in their new home so that they won’t long for your old address.
Have you enjoyed a smooth transition to a new home with children? Share your tips in the below comment area.