Moving house is a big decision, especially if you have young children. If you are moving to an entirely new area you may have to consider new schools, new friend groups and new childcare arrangements. Even if you are only moving a short distance, there may still be an emotional impact to changing the scenery for a child that isn’t used to upheaval.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make your next home move smoother. By anticipating and acknowledging your child’s feelings, you can turn relocating from a potential trauma to an exciting adventure.
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Bid a fond farewell to your current home
If you’ve not moved house since having children, your biggest worry is likely to be how they will cope with leaving behind their familiar life for a brand new one.
The first step is to acknowledge that, yes, this will be difficult for them, but how difficult will depend on how you approach the move. Allow them to express their feelings, even if it’s not what you want to hear, and don’t try to brush off the move as no big deal.
In fact, make leaving your current home an even bigger deal by prolonging the goodbye. If you are relocating to a new area, take them to all their favourite places in the weeks and days leading up to the move, arrange get togethers with nearby friends and family, or even – if you have the capacity alongside packing – organise a farewell party.
All this will make the move feel much less sudden, giving your little one time to come to terms with it while having fun at the same time.
Get them involved in packing
One of the things most likely to upset a child about moving house is how powerless they will feel. This huge decision has been made without them, possibly because of something they don’t fully appreciate, like a new job, and that can make them feel resentful.
That’s why getting them involved in packing up the old house is a great way to nip this resentment in the bud. It gives them a sense of agency, and lets them know that their input is valued, even if their input is limited to organising their toys.
Settle them in quickly
The first weeks in a new home are disorientating for everyone, but especially for children who have never known anything but the life they’ve left behind.
Settle them into the new house and the new area as quickly as possible to give them some security. Make their room one of the first you unpack and organise (with their help if they’re old enough), keep mealtimes and bedtimes regular, and try to get them into a daily routine, ideally one which will be familiar to them.
If you always went to the park on a Saturday afternoon at the old house, do that here too. If they were a member of a sports team, sign them up to one nearby. These are easy steps you can take to make the new house feel like home.
Get them involved in the new area
You don’t have to move house all at once. Unless you’re moving across the country or overseas, make time to visit the new house and its new surroundings before you make it your permanent home.
Take your child for daytrips to all the best places the new home has to offer, like a local playpark, a beach, a local woodland, or something which appeals to one of their interests. It introduces them to their new home in a fun, pressure-free way, and can make the move seem exciting rather than scary.
If you’re in search of a new home for you and your family, these new homes in Trimdon are spacious, comfortable, and close to stunning nature and handy transport links. Any one of them would make a fabulous home for your kids to grow up in.
Harold Price is a home improvement blogger who strives to improve his life and the lives of others. He provides homeowners with helpful tips on how to renovate their homes. His goal is not only to provide easy-to-follow instructions, but also share his own personal experiences for those seeking guidance.
