Moving to a new home is one of the biggest changes a family can face together. It is one that can be both exciting and frightening for children. With good planning, parents can turn moving into an adventure. It is very important to handle the emotional issues that children are dealing with when it comes to moving from their home.
The transition of moving creates anxiety for children when it comes to moving away from everything that is familiar. There are some important things that you will need to do to make the move less stressful for both you and your children.
Parents may be tempted to send the kids to Grandma's during the hectic packing and moving stage. This may seem like a great idea at first, but it may in fact backfire on you. Children need to feel like they are involved in the move also.
Children can feel as if they are out of control and helpless if they are not kept actively involved. Taking part in the transition provides children with continuity- seeing the family move from the old place to the new one. It also will give them a feeling of independence.
Infants and young children can enjoy an easy transition in a well-planned and organized move. Young children are less attached to a place than older children and therefore have less emotional ties to it. Your young child's world is very family-centered and all they care about is that the people that love and take care of them are still there, no matter what. A change in caregivers may be the biggest adjustment your young child will be required to make. Consider the following list of items when planning a move with young children:
Older children, especially those in their teens, have a very difficult time with changes. Talking about uncomfortable feelings can help your child to handle them and move through the transition more easily. They are quite capable with helping during the moving preparations and can be a great help if you are also moving younger children and animals. Here are some things to consider when moving with older children:
Family planning of the schedule and details of your move will make your family's life easier during the entire process. It is important that you try to keep the family routine as normal as possible. With love and patience you can all get through the moving process without emotional scars or extra baggage to carry.
