Moving house can be a challenging time for most families.
There’s what feels like endless packing, making arrangements for updating details at a new house, and ensuring everything is ready for the date of the planned house move.
With children involved in the arrangements, it can get tricky – especially when younger children who have only ever known their old house feel scared or stressed about what the future might hold.
Parents can, however, take specific steps to make the process stress free.
In this article, we look at what to expect when moving house with children, how you can easily get your kids excited about the move, and how to make the whole moving process enjoyable for the whole family.
Understand how moving house can affect children
A big move to a new home in a new city can make any child feel sad and scared, especially if they will be further away from their old friends or family and have to start going to a new school with new teachers that they do not know.
Also, a new location might make them feel uncomfortable if they are not familiar with it or haven’t visited it yet with their parents.
It is important to remember that children rely on their parents during this time and that it might be difficult for them to regulate their own emotions.
Making kids feel comfortable about a house move starts with keeping communication open from both sides.
Start by talking to your children about the move
Making children part of the process from the beginning is key to gently easing them into getting used to the idea that you will be moving in the future.
Be honest if you are planning to move and gently explain reasons, such as mom or dad getting a new job.
Do not wait until the last minute to tell them; they will need time to process their emotions.
Remember, their secure home environment is about to change, and they might feel scared about what this means for their daily routines.
Introduce them to their soon-to-be new neighbourhood and – if you can – their new house and school
If you are close enough to drive for a visit to your future new home and neighbourhood, take your children on the ultimate adventure to explore their new hunting ground, and shoe them any fun parks or other places of interest in the area where they will be able to play or do fun things.
The first prize is if you can show them your new home and let them explore the inside.
This could be a great way to introduce a child to how their new room would look and let them decide how they would like to decorate this space.
Consider introducing them to new neighbours as well, which can help make the new community a little less scary.
Another essential part of this transition period is getting your child used to the idea of attending a new school.
Sometimes, schools will also allow day visits, so consider letting your child spend time at their new school to meet their teachers and new friends.
Should a visit during school time not be possible, you can perhaps arrange a visit during the summer holidays as part of your introduction to the new environment where your family will be living.
Make sure they feel confident about coming to you about their own emotions
Ensure that there is enough time every day for your children to talk with you about how they are feeling about the move.
Children feel so many emotions regarding life changes, so they need a safe space to be open and honest about their feelings.
Even if they vent a little or say they don’t want to move initially, be gentle and understanding.
Allow them to process their emotions, and do not try to force the notion of a new house onto them.
Once they have processed everything, they will feel more in control, and you can work together to plan for the move ahead.
Put your child in charge of planning their new room
A great idea is to allow your child to feel excited about the prospect of decorating their new room.
Let them pick out paint colours, decor or any other items that will make their new surroundings feel like a tailor-made kingdom.
Also, allow them to plan how the layout of their room will look and get them involved during this exciting time when the sky is the limit for design inspiration.
Get them involved in packing their own items as well.
Start with non-essential items they will not be used initially, such as winter clothes that will only be worn the following season or any toys they will not be playing with immediately.
Do keep a special box where their most treasured and most played-with items will be packed last; otherwise, they might feel that all their favourite toys are already packed away.
Read books about moving
Little kids who are struggling with the idea of moving might warm up to the idea when mom and dad read them books about moving.
Be mindful of the stories you pick out – narratives with positive messages are the best, as they can instill a sense of calm and ease that a big move is “not all bad.”
Also, make your kids part of the storytelling.
Ask them what they think different characters might feel and how they feel comfortable for move day.
This can give parents insights into how they can make the moving process easier for the whole family and get everyone excited about the move.
Be sensitive to how house views will impact your children
If you are still in the process of selling your old house and have people coming for house viewings, it might be easier to arrange child care during this time.
The last thing you want is someone to come in to view your home and then start talking in front of your child about how they are going to redo their room.
Be mindful that your old home is still your child’s house until the day you move out, so be mindful of their feelings during this time.
Make a checklist to ensure no precious items are lost
Ensure your children’s belongings are safely packed and ready as the big move approaches.
Allow them to pick their favourite things to keep close during the move, such as a soft toy, and put them in charge of taking care of these items on move day.
Ensure that they get plenty of rest before the big move
Whether they feel excited and cannot wait to start thriving in a new space, or, on the other hand, feel a bit stressed, you must ensure your children are well-rested for the big move.
Read them their favourite stories at nighttime, and keep their bedtime routine consistent to ensure they are ready for the actual move.
Tips to make moving day easy
Once the day of your house move arrives, the whole family must be ready.
Here are some tips for moving house with kids that will help them feel more at ease on the day.
Give your children time to say goodbye to your old home
If possible, do this the day before to allow your child to feel they have time to discuss their feelings and concerns.
Let them process the final stages of moving house gently, and if there are some tears, allow them to express their emotions.
Arrange child care for younger children
Little kids might not be the best moving partners, so arrange child care with family members or friends.
If they attend daycare, inform their caregivers when you will pick up your children.
Get older children involved with the moving process
Older kids can help mom and dad load not-too-heavy boxes into the car and check that all rooms have been emptied of any items that need to be moved.
This will give your kids a feeling of control and allow them to feel in charge.
What to do as soon as you have moved into your new house
Once all your belongings are inside and you have moved house completely, you must continue keeping the day stress free for your children.
Here are some ways to help them get comfortable after moving day.
Start with your children’s rooms
Get your children excited about decorating their rooms with all their familiar things!
Let them pack out their moving boxes and start arranging their toys in their own rooms – let fun times be had by all!
Your kids will have so much fun getting their new rooms ready, it will allow you enough time to start unpack the rest of your new home too.
Take breaks and have fun
If your children are helping with unpacking boxes, allow enough time to rest in between, too.
Remember, going out for a quick ice cream or waffles can give everyone some energy and ensure kids stay excited about their new house and how it will look once everything is unpacked and organised.
Make sure you keep old routines consistent
Bath time, story time, bed time – keep your child’s routine the same as it was like at your old home.
This will help them ease into those first couple of new nights in your brand-new home and make it warm and comforting for your kids.
Become neighbourhood explorers
Part of moving home is to experience the stress free fun of exploring your new community.
Plan a couple of exploring activities for your family for the first couple of days following your move into the new home.
Check out kid-friendly venues, enjoy meals at restaurants, or go for a walk at nearby parks.
Let your children pick places they want to visit and plan a great day out.
Get your kids excited about their new environment, and allow them to have lots of fun!
Remember: Be patient throughout the whole process
Moving day can be as exciting as it is scary for kids, and this is where mom and dad need to remember that a little patience can go a long way.
Do not lose hope when there are tears about the move or sadness – these are all normal reactions, and once your kids have packed out their favourite familiar items in your new home and have experienced their first night in their new bedrooms, they will slowly but surely start adjusting.
It is important to stay resilient, so make this stressful time easier by keeping to your children’s routine, serving up regular helpings of familiar foods, and overall, allowing them to ease into this transition period.
Most importantly: Ensure that you instill a sense of “being home” at your new home, and make your new surroundings a welcoming haven for your children where they can look forward to playdates with new friends and lots of fun activities.
