How to Prepare Your Children for an Out of Town Relocation
If you’re planning to move out of town, there are things you should do in preparation for your relocation. Among the most important tasks on your to-do list is to make your children aware of your plans. That way, they’re physically and emotionally prepared for the changes that await them in a new city. Here are some tips from Cheap Movers Seattle, leader in moving services Seattle, WA, to help prepare kids for the move:
Announce the decision as early as possible.
Parents magazine recommends alerting toddlers and preschoolers to your plans at least a month in advance. That way, they have plenty of time to wrap their minds around what is going to take place in the upcoming weeks. School-age children may be forced to leave during the middle of their classes. Helping them say a proper goodbye to teachers, classmates, and friends are important because it gives them a sense of closure.
Explore the new town together as a family.
Make it a point to visit the new location at least once before moving. This gives kids a chance to scope things out and to get excited about what the new city has to offer them. If a school is still in session during the move, meet with administrators and teachers before enrollment so that your son or daughter get to know who they’ll be spending time with in the future.
Throw a going away party.
By hosting a farewell party, your family, friends, neighbors, and the children’s teachers can attend and say a formal goodbye. Make sure to exchange addresses and phone numbers and make promises for the kids to stay in touch via video messaging. Skype and Facetime are two options that allow children to see and speak to the people they miss most.
Make the move something the kids participate in.
Have them pack their boxes, pick out the things they want to take with them for their overnight bags, and select the paint color of their new room. Small details make a big difference to kids because it makes them feel like they’re in control of the situation.
Come back to visit family and friends when possible.
Depending on the distance you’ve put between your old residence and the new one you’re dwelling in, visiting relatives and friends may not be easy. If possible, make it a point to travel to your old town. Let your kids see their old friends and even drive past the home they once lived in for sentimental reasons. They’ll have adjusted to their new surroundings and lifestyle enough by then that it won’t be a problem to visit.
Moving out of town takes work and preparing your children in advance for the changes taking places makes it experience easier for the entire family. If you’re not sure how your kids are going to accept the news, give them plenty of time to process it. Also, try reading these books on moving with your kids. That way, they can come to their conclusions about how the move will affect them positively or negatively.