While moving to a new city or even just to a new home can be a challenge for anyone, it can often be much more scary for a child. Because children understand things on such a surface level, the complexities and changes that come along with a move can sometimes create a lot of stress and anxiety within the minds and hearts of children. Knowing this, it’s up to you as the parent to help put them at ease and make the move something they no longer fear. To help you with this task, here are three tips for helping your kids cope with a move.
Prepare Yourself For Whatever Emotions Come
As the parent, it’s been up to you to plan and prepare for this move. Because of this, the news that you’re moving can’t possibly come as a shock to you like it likely will to your children. So once you decide that the time is right to break the news about the move to your children, Aha! Parenting advises that you prepare yourself for whatever emotions are to come from your child. Once they’ve expressed whatever emotions they feel, try your best to listen and acknowledge what he or she is feeling without trying to talk him or her out of feeling that way. Once the news isn’t so fresh, your child will likely be easier to speak to about the imminent move.
Set The Tone For The Move Yourself
While your family is preparing for your move, one of the best things you can do for the morale of your family is to realize that you set the tone for how those around you will feel about the move. According to Meghan Leahy, a contributor to The Washington Post, if you can show to your family that you feel calm, organized, and hopeful about the prospect of moving, those feelings will rub off on your family a bit as well. So even if you don’t have the best attitude about the move yourself, try to fake it til you make it if you want your kids to be more pleasant about the move as well.
Keep As Many Things As You Can The Same
Because so many things in your child’s life are about to change with this move, the Child Development Institute suggests that you try to keep as many things as you can the same within your child’s life. By doing this, you’ll be able to give your children a sense of stability and routine even while you’re entrenched in a time of transition. Some of the things you should try to keep the same include the furniture in their bedroom, their toys, and their typical daily routine.
If you’re about to move with your family, consider using the tips mentioned above to help make this time a little easier on your children.
