MOVING TO A NEW CITY (OR HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY) CAN BE CHALLENGING … AND IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY HARD ON KIDS. CHANGING SCHOOLS AND LEAVING FRIENDS BEHIND IS TOUGH.
WE’VE HELPED ENOUGH FAMILIES RELOCATE TO KNOW THAT THE MORE YOU INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN IN YOUR MOVE, THE EASIER IT WILL BE.
TELL YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE MOVE, AS MUCH IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE. YOUR FEELINGS WILL BE CONTAGIOUS, SO BE UPBEAT. BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR “LESS-THAN-100%-POSITIVE-FEELINGS”. .
YOU CAN HELP THE KIDS COPE BY INCLUDING THEM IN THE DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING. WE CAN’T EXPECT THEM TO BE INSTANTLY ECSTATIC ABOUT MOVING. LEAVING FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND WHAT’S FAMILIAR TO THEM IS A LOT TO ASK. LET THEM BE MAD, SAD, DISAPPOINTED. IT’S A PROCESS. SHARE WHAT YOU’RE THINKING WITH THEM …. LISTEN… LET THEM PARTICIPATE.
YOU DON’T NEED TO BE OVERLY STOIC, CONFIDENT AND UPBEAT. IT WORKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE IF
YOU CAN CAUTIOUSLY SHARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS. MOVING IS DISORIENTING. BY TELLING THEM THAT YOU’LL MISS FRIENDS, FAMILY AND THE THINGS YOU DO EVERYDAY, IT WILL HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE HAS MIXED EMOTIONS, BUT THAT OVERALL THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR FAMILY.
WE ALL NEED TIME TO ADJUST TO THE THOUGHT OF MOVING. INVOLVE YOUR KIDS IN THE PROCESS EARLY, AND LET THEM BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IT MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO HOUSE-HUNT WITH YOU, BUT ONCE YOU KNOW YOU’RE MOVING, SHOW THEM PICTURES OF HOMES YOU’RE CONSIDERING… OR IF YOU’VE ALREADY FOUND THE HOUSE, SHOW THEM PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HOME YOU’RE BUYING…. AND THE POOL, IF IT HAS ONE.
BEFORE YOUR MOVE, IF YOU CAN, TAKE THEM SEE YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD. SHOW THEM THE HOUSE THAT’S GOING TO BE YOURS (EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY SEE IT FROM THE OUTSIDE). DRIVE BY THEIR NEW SCHOOL . TAKE THEM TO THE LOCAL PARK AND OUT FOR LUNCH OR FROZEN YOGURT. IF YOU’RE MOVING TO MIAMI, DRIVE TO THE BEACH. LET THEM PLAY.
THE LESS STRESSED YOU ARE, THE EASIER IT WILL BE ON THE CHILDREN. LOOK AT IT AS AN ADVENTURE… BECAUSE IT WILL BE. AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE MOVING DATE, LET THE KIDS PARTICIPATE. THEY CAN HELP WITH PACKING – MARKING THEIR OWN BOXES… (STICKERS AND CRAYONS ARE GREAT FOR LITTLE ONES). HELP THEM ORGANIZE PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES SO THEY CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS. AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF TIME TO PROPERLY SAY GOODBYE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOVE, KEEP THEM BUSY AND OCCUPIED. GIVE THEM THE TASK OF LOOKING AFTER THE FAMILY PET AND LET THEM DECIDE WHICH SNACKS AND BEVERAGES TO HAVE FOR MOVING DAY, AND PACK THE COOLER.
ONCE YOU’RE IN YOUR NEW HOME, DON’T RUSH TO ORGANIZE EVERYTHING. DON’T UNPACK ALL AT ONCE. LINENS AND BEDS – YES. UNPACK WHATEVER ESSENTIALS YOU NEED, BUT THEN TAKE SOME TIME AND EXPLORE AND ENJOY YOUR NEW SURROUNDINGS. TAKE THE DOG FOR A WALK. SEE IF YOU CAN MEET SOME NEIGHBORS.. OR WAVE AS YOU BIKE PAST. GO OUT. FIND A FAMILY RESTAURANT, GO TO THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET OR FRUIT STAND. GO TO THE BEACH FOR A FEW HOURS. TAKE THE KIDS TO A MOVIE. SPENDING TIME TOGETHER WILL MAKE IT LIKE A FAMILY VACATION OF SORTS … AND REASSURE THEM THAT LIFE IS STILL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
IF YOU CAN, KEEP THE SAME ROUTINE AS WHAT THEY’RE USED TO (MEALTIMES, BEDTIME, ACTIVITIES). CONTINUITY HELPS. AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK YOUR REALTOR FOR HELP. WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT (AND SOMETIMES DIFFICULT) IT IS FOR KIDS TO MAKE FRIENDS. FINDING ACTIVITIES THEY ENJOY, WHERE THEY’LL MEET OTHER KIDS IS SO IMPORTANT. YOUR REALTOR CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVITIES, ART CLASSES, PARK PROGRAMS, SPORTS, KARATE, DANCE.
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO BRING NEW FRIENDS HOME, SWIM IN THE POOL, SHARE A PIZZA, PLAY SOCCER … THE MORE THEY BUILD THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLE THE MORE THEY’LL FEEL AT HOME.
