IMPORTANT TIPS IN PREPARING KIDS TO MOVE. Moving is tough for everyone, even in cases where it’s a wise decision. Children often feel helpless and it’s rarely their idea, which makes it even more upsetting for them. The following is a list of twelve suggestions to help children prepare for moving. Even if you don’t follow them all, they will round out the tools in your toolbox. These tips for preparing children for relocation also apply to adults and teens.
Give them as many options as possible.
Allow children to make many decisions because they feel helpless in this situation. Is it possible for them to choose which toys to leave out? Is it possible for them to pick their own room? What is the colour of the paint? Is it possible for them to name the new house? Can they take part in real estate agent interviews? Can they contribute to the “must-have” list for the new home? Watch some house-hunting shows with your kids to show them that sacrifices are inevitable. If cash is tight, be upfront about it. If your finances aren’t in order, there’s no point in pretending everything is alright. A bloom-where-you-are-planted mentality is a great model to follow.
Lead by example.
Don’t be preachy; instead, be explicit about how you plan to adapt to the new circumstances. Tell them how you plan to make new friends. Talk about your plan for joining new groups. Discuss your own ambivalent feelings with your relatives. Weeds may still be growing nearby even if you are blossoming where you are planted.
Seek advice.
You don’t have to wait until you’re in a crisis to seek help. A visit to a therapist may be a terrific preventative step during the moving process. It can also make it easier for kids to be receptive to seeing a counsellor if there are issues that need professional help after the move.
Create memorable moments.
Be a good role model. Without coming across as condescending, be explicit about how you plan to adapt to the new circumstances. Describe to them your plan for making new friends. Talk about the process you plan to use to join new groups. Talk to the family about your own ambivalent feelings. Not because weeds aren’t growing nearby, only because you’re blooming where you’re planted.
Make a connection ahead of time.
Become a role model. Not in a preachy way, but clearly state how you plan to adapt to the new circumstances. Inform them about your plan to make new friends. Talk about your plan for obtaining memberships in other groups. With the family, discuss your own ambivalent feelings. Neighbouring weeds may still be emerging even when you are flourishing where you are planted.
Encourage them to write in their journals.
Provide a model example. Don’t be preachy; simply be clear about how you plan to adapt to the new circumstances. Tell them how you hope to make new friends. Talk about your plan for obtaining memberships in new groups. Talk to the family about your own mixed feelings. Weeds can still develop nearby even if you’re blossoming where you’re planted.
Include them in the planning process.
Kids often enjoy organizing projects, so allowing them to look for moving organization suggestions might be a great way to divert some of their moving-related enthusiasm. Being a part of the actual planning of the relocation can make the whole affair more pleasant. Some children may enjoy making a Pinterest board or a notepad with ideas for you. Take their suggestions carefully and try to implement as many as possible. This isn’t a problem because they’ll most likely come up with some good ideas.
Respect their anguish.
It is a loss to relocate. Leaving one’s home, as well as friends, family, church, schools, and even neighbourhood shops and playgrounds can feel like death. Recognizing that children are grieving and allowing them to go through the mourning process without continuously making them happy recognizes that suffering. One sure way to lessen the hassles of moving is to hire a company like A&R Removals & General Freight.
