Tips for Moving House with Children

While moving house feels stressful for everyone, the transition can be particularly hard on children. Little ones adapt to their environments easily, so when they need to leave familiarity behind, they may feel a sense of loss. For you, as a parent, the logistical aspects can cause anxiety too. Fortunately, there are ways to make moving house with children less problematic.

Let them take ownership of their new environment

From introducing them to local activities to allowing them to design their room, letting your child take ownership of their new environment helps them gain a sense of control. Some of the ways to do this include:

• Taking them to visit the house
• Letting them pick room designs on Pinterest
• Allowing them to have a say in their new school

The sense of control they will feel should reduce some of the feelings of loss.

Involve them in the moving process

Children over a certain age love to feel as though they are taking part in grownup activities. While the idea of letting little hands play a role in packing and decluttering may not always seem appealing, it may make them feel more at ease with the situation.

Naturally, this process is stressful for you too. As such, when it comes to the larger packing tasks, consider hiring professional help. In doing so, you can free up time to plan aspects of your new life such as schools, your commute, and childcare.

Maintain a positive attitude

No matter what their age, your child is smart enough to detect when you’re feeling high levels of stress. Although you can’t mask negative emotions entirely, saying positive words and focusing on the exciting elements of moving home will reduce your child’s anxiety.

Finally, when moving house with children, don’t forget to let them know you’re happy to answer all and any questions. By maintaining open lines of communication, you can make the process more placid.