When planning a move, one of the hardest things parents face is helping their kids understand and accept the change. Whether you’re going to be moving around the globe or just across town, your kids may find it hard to cope with the experience of leaving familiar surroundings. To help your kids get excited about the move, appeal to their adventurous side and help them understand what they can expect in terms that they can understand.
Here are eight helpful tips for helping your kids with a move:
1. Communicate openly. One of the most important things you can do to make the
move easier on your kids is to be honest with your kids about moving. Explain, in age appropriate terms, why the move is taking place and what they can look forward to in
the coming weeks and months. Keep in mind, as you do this, that listening is often more
important than talking. Let your kids ask questions and respond to their concerns with
compassion.
2. Involve your kids in the moving process. Whether it’s packing or looking at potential new homes, kids will feel more comfortable with the move if you let them participate in it. How much they can be involved will depend on how old they are, but you can get basic feedback from kids of nearly any age. Once you have your house choices narrowed down to two or three, for example, you may want to take your kids to see the homes and ask their opinions.
3. Streamline before you pack.The less you have to move, the easier (and less expensive) it will be. Decide what you want to take with you: furniture, belongings, toys, cars, and make plans to get rid of the rest. Let your kids in on this process, especially when it comes to their stuff.
4. Make time for packing. Packing with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. Have them pack up their rooms a little at a time, perhaps by setting a small packing for goal every week until the move. Be sure to leave important toys and items for the end and mark them in a box that says “First day,” so you can have those things immediately upon arriving at your new place.
5. Say goodbye. If it’s an option, it may be easier on your kids to move during the summer so they won’t have to change too much during the middle of the school year. No matter what time of year you’re moving, however, set aside time to let your kids say farewell to both people and places that they will miss. If your kids are old enough, you may suggest that they exchange email addresses with special friends to keep in touch.
6. Move successfully. Plan your move carefully. The average cost of moving goods and furniture across the country for most families is about $12,000, but this can vary greatly depending on where you’re moving to. Check out the price of a variety of movers, including Car Shipping and Transport , and compare that with the cost in dollars and man-hours of going the DIY route. If you are relocating out of the country, International Car Shipping and moving expenses will likely be more.
Author: Tom Henderson has many years of experience helping people move their cars long distances. When he’s not busy coordinating the logistics of moving cars at Ship Your Car Now Tom enjoys blogging about the process of moving to help others get through the process as easily as possible.
