Moving Out? 5 Tips To Prepare Your Kids For Their New Home

Moving houses is a challenging process, and if kids are involved, it becomes even more difficult. Unlike adults, bidding farewell to familiar surroundings, neighborhood friends, and old routines isn’t easy for kids. Nonetheless, relocation is a common phenomenon experienced by almost every American. In 2021, 4.8 million Americans moved interstate. 

While the reasons to relocate can be plenty, the most common is the high cost of living, especially in cities like Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale’s living cost is higher than both the state and national average, 21% and 22%, respectively.  Not everyone can easily maintain a decent lifestyle here, especially when you have a family to support. 

Kids, unfortunately, don’t usually have the capacity to consider finances and other reasons for moving. They will have developed emotional attachments to their friends, local parks, and even the structure of your old house. 

As a parent or guardian, you must prepare the children for the impending move. Doing so will make the transition easier for them. A little acknowledgment and effort go a long way with the little ones. For a smoother, emotionally healthy transition, check out the tips below: 

1. Start Early

Firstly, contact Fort Lauderdale long distance movers & experts to assist with the move. Moving requires packing, assembling bulky items, decluttering, unpacking, and whatnot. Only expert movers can manage these moving activities. 

If the kids don’t know about the move until this point, they will feel alarmed and shaken by the abrupt changes. Many kids also like to feel involved in whatever the family is doing. Knowing about a major moving decision later can lead to feelings of isolation, resentment, and even rebellion against being left out. 

Here’s how you can break the news to your kids: 

• Tell them about the move almost a month before you have to leave. 
• Older children can know about the move a little sooner, giving them room to mentally and emotionally prepare.
• Teenagers may know about the move while the decision is ongoing, though it depends on their level of interest and cooperation.

2. Keep Giving Reminders

It’s not enough to tell the kids about a move just once. They’ll likely forget it by the next day or even the next minute. 

For younger kids, make sure to give a reminder about moving at least daily. Discuss or mention the move excitedly, but keep it casual to avoid intimidation. For example, if they see something they like at a store, tell them they can have it in their new room after moving. Of course, this is assuming that you have the budget and room for that item. It can be something small, like a poster, wall hanging, etc. A few instances like this will help normalize the idea of moving homes. 

With younger kids, it’s best to remind them that most aspects of their lives will remain the same. Here are some examples:

• Their toys will come along with them
• The family pets will also be in the new home
• They will still be able to indulge in activities such as going to the park, playing sports, dance classes, etc.

As the children grow older, they will experience more changes after a move. Make sure to address these changes and acknowledge the difficulty in adapting to them. 

3. Accept Their Experience

Moving is usually bittersweet, even when you’re all grown up. You’d be feeling emotional and overwhelmed yourself. Multiply that feeling several times and imagine what it must be like for a child.

Even after much talking, counseling, and discussing, your child can still feel angry or sad about this life change. It’s natural since they’re saying goodbye to familiar faces and places. They might be upset now, but remember, it won’t always be this way. Let the agitation simmer for some time; it might take weeks or even months for them to settle down. 

Your role here is to be supportive. Some actions you can take include:

• Being there for them whenever they need to talk
• Bringing or cooking their favorite food and snacks a few times
• Taking some days off work to build a connection with the child in the new place or to make lasting memories in the old home

4. Throw A Party

Saying goodbye is important for everyone, including children. If your kids are old enough to have a circle of friends, try setting up a farewell party for them all. It will ensure that no one misses out on saying goodbye to those they care about. Here are some points to keep in mind when planning this party: 

• Don’t plan the party too close to your move-out date; everyone might already be feeling sad about the immediate move.
• At the party, encourage the kids to make plans to stay in touch.
• Set up dates for video calls, phone calls, or visits to your old neighborhood.
• Take pictures, make memories, and remember the good old times. 

5. Involve Them In The Process

There’s a lot your kids can do to help you out while moving. Along with lightening your load, this step will also help kids feel like they have some control. They love the feeling of being in charge, making some decisions, and planning. Allow them to pick out accessories for their new room or paint color.

Moving is also a great time to declutter, so you’d be donating, giving away, or tossing some old items. Encourage your kids to participate in the decluttering process. For teenagers, ask them to throw away unused or unnecessary items. For little ones, see if they’re willing to donate a few toys or games. You can also ask for their assistance in labeling boxes and color-coding them.  

Conclusion:

When you prepare your kids for the upcoming movie, it’s possible to avoid tantrums and meltdowns. Avoid informing your kids of the move at the last hour. By involving them, you’ll hopefully have a fun moving day and find it easier to settle in. Moving isn’t easy for anyone and this calls for expert assistance. Hire movers to make your transition smooth and swift.