Moving Guides: Moving With Children

It's reasonable to be concerned about your children when you are moving house, especially when you're moving to a totally new location. Moving is stressful for everyone, and can be especially traumatic for children.Turning your children's resentment towards moving into excitement can be difficult, but here are some simple tips to get your children seeing the big move as an exciting adventure!

• Allocate your children some exciting and age appropriate tasks over the course of the moving process.
• Make games out of packing your children's belongings.
• Letting your children know that you've hidden some surprises in their moving boxes for when they get arrive can also get them excited about getting there!
• Pack your children's toys and security items (like their favourite teddy or “security blanket”) as close as possible to moving day, and keep a couple of favourites out to keep them occupied after the truck has gone and before your removalist arrives at your new place.
• Don't ship your children away while you prepare. While having them around when the moving truck is being packed may not be safe, it's often a good idea to allow your children to stay around and help pack for your move. They may get in the way a bit, but at least they'll feel involved.
• Try to retain your normal routines as much as possible both before you leave and after you arrive. Their lives are going to be turned a bit upside-down by the move – retaining as much of their normal day to day routines can help smooth the transition.
• Get children involved in their new community as soon as possible. Local sports clubs and other community groups can help your children make new friends – who knows, you might make some new ones yourself!
• Keep an eye on your children to make sure they're doing okay. Take some time to with making sure they're coping and making new friends. Empathise with them and validate their feelings while assuring them that things will get improve with time.
• If possible, take your children along with you when choosing their new school and your new home. Anything that will assist them in providing a sense of ownership in the process.
• Try to be clear as to what your child should expect. Don't assume that they understand the full process of moving. They may not understand that their toys will be coming with them. They may also not understand that their friends will not. Being clear about what is coming and what is staying and, overall, what they should expect can both reassure them, and reduce any major shocks over the course of your move.
• In the lead up to your move, give some photographs of your new house to your children so that they can show their friends. Allowing your children to “show and tell” their new home may get them excited and instill feelings of ownership in the move.
• Try and stay calm and positive yourself. Children feed off of your emotions. Showing them that you're stressed and dreading moving will only strengthen their negativity towards it too.
• Make time for your children to say goodbye to their friends before you go. Yes, you'll be busy, but it's important that they have some closure.
• Talk to your children early about moving. Don't delay it. The more time they have to get used to the idea, the less stressed or shocked they'll be.
• Be patient. Moving can be stressful for anyone – not the least, for your kids.

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