How Moving can Effect Kids

Posted on 10. Apr, 2009 by TheCuteKid Photo Contest in Parenting

Moving to a new home? Read These Tips for a Stress-Free New Home Transition! Moving can be a nightmare, especially if you have kids. Learn how to make their new home transition, and yours, a stress-free one.

New Home Transition for Kids

How to make a smooth move with kids

By Mary Fetzer

So you’re planning to move your family to a new home. Moving can be a nightmare, and it’s especially challenging when children are involved.

P.S. connected ith Sonya Weisshappel, founder and president of Seriatim, Inc. (www.seriatim.net), a New York City-based organizing firm, for tips on ensuring a smoother family move:

Q: How can we help our children understand that the only thing we’re leaving behind is the house itself?

Homes hold a lot of memories, and it’s important for children to realize that you take those memories with you and the people stay the same, says Weisshappel. Flipping through photo albums with your kids and talking about your previous homes helps them understand that people come and go, but houses stay put.

Q:  Our young children are very apprehensive about the idea of moving. What are they so afraid of?

Children who are moving are afraid of the unknown – the new house, new friends, or a new school. Parents should try to get their children acclimated to their new environment as soon as possible.

To start, Weisshappel advises, take your children on a walk-through of the new space. Do this when the house is empty so they can explore all the nooks and crannies and uncover all the creaks and sounds, so there is less of a “monster-in-the-closet” fear.

Of course, another source of anxiety for kids is going to a new school. Don’t be apprehensive about working with school departments and counselors to get kids in touch with others their own age and help introduce them to new friends. Find out if the school offers any outreach opportunities for new students.

Q: What can we do to make our children feel more at home in our new house?

Talk to your children about how your family can decorate the new house and make it your own. It’s integral that kids have a say in the décor of their new digs. It helps them see that no matter where you live, you create your own space based on who you are, advises Weisshappel.

An essential aspect of setting up a child’s room in a new home is doing it quickly. Encourage your child to pack a box of favorite, special things. When it’s time to unpack, she can arrange her important items first. In addition to making her feel at home, she’ll also have a sense of ownership.

Q: What are some mistakes we should try to avoid while making a move with the family?

It’s easy for parents to get bogged down during a move, but this is a critical time for the family to stick together, cherish their memories, and spend time with one another.

According to Weisshappel, the biggest mistake parents make during a move is not spending enough time with their children. Kids are already feeling out of place and anxious about moving, so be sure to make extra time to comfort them in their new surroundings. The average move takes 200 hours! So, whether you need to slow down the process or hire professionals to help ease your efforts, make spending quality time with your kids a priority.

Another mistake parents make is tossing all the old stuff and buying new furniture to start fresh. This can be traumatic for kids. Kids cannot relate to their entirely new surroundings, so having that old comfy couch to snuggle on or sitting at the same kitchen table is important. Again, make your children a part of these decisions.

Moving an entire household is so overwhelming! Are you prepared? For a complete checklist of move details from Sonya Weisshappel, visit her site at  http://www.seriatim.net/moving.html

Moving advive from a mom up to her ears in boxes

Megan Wagner, mom of three, has moved with three young children from home to home (to home!), and offers these tips on moving:

• Call in favors! Remember when you were such a help for your neighbor and she wanted to return the favor? Call it in! Even if the children play in her backyard for a few hours, it will help.
• Boxes from the liquor store are free and they have dividers in them already. Packing is a breeze with these freebies.
• Six weeks until closing?Don’t spread the packing out; that will only drive you crazy. In the first four weeks, take one room at time and purge everything you don’t want to pack. In the last two weeks, pack. Use paper cups, plates, and take-out for the last few days.
• As you pack a room, clean it, close the door, and kiss it goodbye.
• Keep it in perspective. It will get done. Moving can be so stressful if you allow it to be. In the weeks before a move, leave the house – truly leave it – for a few hours. Keeping lists is helpful, but don’t allow that endless to-do list to overwhelm you.

Moms, dads: Share your moving dos and don’ts…

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Tags: child moving, home transition for kids, moving away, moving can effect kids, moving to a new home, parent center, Parenting, parenting advice, smooth move with kids