Moving with children
According to a recent study, the average American moves into a new home every five years. There are many reasons for this – for example, you may move into a bigger property to accommodate a growing family, pursue new career opportunities, or simply to seek out a change of scenery.
However, the frequency with which we move is surprising, considering that “40% of homeowners rank moving house as the most stressful event they’ve had to overcome.”
The already stressful event can be even more stressful when you’re moving with young kids. Not only does it mean more packing, but it also means you have to work to prepare them for quite a significant change.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for moving home with kids.
Be as organized as possible.
The key to keeping your stress levels low when moving is to be as organized as possible. Thankfully, there are various ways you can achieve this goal.
For example, you could keep a detailed schedule of every task that needs to be completed (and when), from signing contracts to attending viewings, so that you’ve got a visual guide to follow when things get chaotic.
You can also find ways to reduce your workload during this time.
For example, by hiring removalists who offer packing and unpacking services, such as Two Men And A Truck, you can take a lot of work (and heavy lifting) off your shoulders. When you have less to do, you’ll feel better prepared to support your kids during this time!
Involve them in the conversation.
As mentioned above, moving house brings around quite a significant change for children – as they’ll likely be leaving behind the only home they’ve ever known.
As a result, you must involve them in the conversation as early as possible, so they’re able to prepare themselves for this shift. This way, they won’t feel as though the move is sprung upon them at the last minute, which is more likely to result in an emotional fallout.
There are plenty of ways in which you can get them involved without putting too much responsibility on their shoulders. For example, you could bring them along viewings or ask them to put together a bucket list of things they’d like to do or see in your new town or city. When moving day draws closer, you could get them to help with cleaning your home or packing.
‘Sell’ the move to them.
Ultimately, the decision to move lies upon your shoulders – but you must listen to any worries or concerns your children may have. This way, you’ll be able to reframe their thoughts toward something more positive.
For example, if they’re worried about leaving behind their friends and hobbies, you could spend some time researching clubs they can join once they move and ensure you sign them up with plenty of time to spare.
This will also make it easier for them to settle into their new home as they have something to look out for.
If you found this helpful, read more about shared bedrooms for kids. There are so many benefits and a great option until you move to a bigger home.
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