Anyone who’s ever seen Disney / Pixar’s Inside Out knows how hard a relocation can be on a developing young mind. Children can cling extremely tightly to their support networks in times of physical and emotional turmoil, which is completely normal during adolescence. As such, they can be fiercely loyal to their social networks and friendship groups, reacting vehemently to the prospect of this being broken up. This is especially true when your family is forced to relocate as a result of a career change, promotion or other life change. The prospect of relocating can be a tough sell to kids.
Here are some ways to cushion the blow of relocation, and help your kids look forward to a move with a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Take them on a virtual tour of their new hometown
Because young minds cling to the comfort of the familiar, it’s likely that they’ll take the following stance; their current home is the only place in which they can be happy and everything and everyone in their new neighborhood or city are not acceptable. But if you can educate them to the contrary, they may become a little more amenable to the move. Show them places where they can enjoy the same activities they enjoy now. If you can take them to these places that’s great but if not you can show them around online. Show them places where they can get food that they’ll enjoy and local attractions where you can go for a fun family day out.
You may still experience a little angst and anger and it’s important to accept this and resist the urge to quash it. After all, you made this decision. They didn’t. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect it to come as a blow to them.
Take steps to make moving day stress free
Children are extremely adept at picking up on their parents stress and anxiety and your strained smile will do little to mask the stress of moving day. As such, it’s vital that you take steps to take the stress out of moving day. The right movers like Bekins Moving Solutions can go a long way towards making moving less stressful. Choosing an experienced and reliable company with a proven track record will help to ease the experience as will these helpful moving hacks.
Arrange for their friends to come and visit as soon as you can
While they will inevitably make new friends when they’re settled in their new home, it’s perfectly natural for them to miss their existing friends. As such, it’s vital that you help them to nurture their connections to their closest friends as they are a vital part of their support network. Make arrangements for them to come and visit as soon as you are settled.
Keep their schedule as similar as possible
Kids are sticklers for routine as much as the rest of us. We tend to be able to normalize the world around us when we fall into a routine. Sticking to the same kind of schedule they experienced in their old home will help them to process the move and realize that life isn’t all that different after all.
