Help Your Kids Settle in your New Home

By: Sonia Smith

Moving into a new house is the same as having a fresh start. Although it is an exciting time for you and your family, it could also be a stressful and tough time with all the activities needed. Moving is more difficult for your kids since they do not fully understand the reason why a move is necessary. They would find it hard to leave their old friends and school behind without knowing what to expect from the new location.

Since children will be the ones greatly affected by the moving process, it is important that you should do everything to make the process a lot easier for them. From the very beginning, you should communicate with your kids and tell them the reason for moving. Letting them know how you feel about the move is also helpful. Below are several ways to help your children settle in their new home.

1. If you are moving into a home where it is easy for you to visit, bring your children along and show the new home to them before you move there. If it is possible to move things bit by bit, let your kids choose things they would love to put in their new rooms so when you finally move, they would feel more at home and at ease there.
2. If they are transferring to a new school too, take them to a visit of their new school. A tour of their new school grounds will help them settle fast.
3. After you move, help your kids adjust to your new home. Assist them in making new friends and find ways to get them to socialize with kids in the new place. Research on a neighborhood association that your kids can join to meet new friends. Let them bring along toys to share with children who wants to play with them in the local playgrounds.
4. Get your children involved actively in painting and decorating their new rooms. Let them choose the decorations, theme and paint colors that they love.
5. Before, during and after your move, keep your normal daily routine. Kids are more at ease if they know what to expect. Keep bedtimes, mealtimes and playtimes remain as scheduled.
6. Let your children know that they can always keep their old friends and get them to stay in touch every now and then. Remind them to give your new address and telephone number to their old friends. This way, they can remain in close contact despite being away.

Even if you do not always have a choice when to make a move, it is preferable to make it during summer vacation or early in the school year. Uprooting your children in the middle of the school year could be distressing to everybody. Host a going away party for them to give them time to say goodbye to their schoolmates and friends and will give you a chance to take pictures of all of them together.

Remember to be excited and happy about your move so that your children will feel the same way.