Moving time is stressful. There’s no way getting around that. Planning and organizing everything. Packing and shipping all of your belongings. There is a lot to do and very little time to do it. Like adults, kids also feel the stress. Even more so in many instances. They are changing their school and leaving their friends. They have to learn how to cope with the new environment. If you want to help your kids cope with moving stress you need to be patient. You need to talk to them. Understand their side of the story. And try and make their new home as comfortable as possible. Moving is an interesting activity for them. And a great opportunity for you to help your children overcome the moving stress. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
Help your kids cope with moving stress by talking to them before you move
Communication is very important when dealing with children. But in the chaos of packing and moving parents often neglect their children. After all, you are feeling the same stress as they do. And you manage to keep it together. But kids are much more sensitive to moving. They still haven’t seen enough of the world to know that moving is part of life.
Their friends
For kids, it might seem that making friends is easy. But from their perspective, they are losing all the social connections they worked so hard on building. So talk to them. Ask them about which friends they are going to miss the most. If you are not moving too far away, try and organize play dates after you move. That can help your kids cope with moving stress by changing things gradually.
The new school
School is the main social gathering place for your kids. They made lasting connections there. Not only with other children but also with teachers. Each school has its own way of doing certain things. Both on social and education level. To talk to your kids about the new school. Show them photos of with. Explain to them that it might be a bit hard at first. But eventually, the will be accepted at the new school and that they will make new friends.
Include your kids in planning the move
If you can get your kids excited about moving than you did half of the work. In order to help your kids cope with moving you need to make them a part of it. If you still haven’t decided on the new home ask them what they think. Ask them if they have any wishes or hopes. Local movers NJ will help you with your relocation. But there is still a lot of things left to do. So, try to do it with your kids. Pack their things together with them. Teach them how to make moving boxes and pack their things. That way a move will have a gradual transition period. If you pack everything for them and transport them to their new home they will see it as an overnight change. Packing everything together will help your kids cope with moving stress by making them care about it.
Talk about your new home
Show your kids some photos of the new home. Talk with them about how they would like their room to look. Just like for adults, the move can be a great way to start over. That’s why it’s important to show your kids that the move is for the better. By planning the layout of their room they will see that moving has its benefits. Maybe they wanted a different color for their walls or a larger desk. If it’s in your budget try and get them at least some of the things that they would like to have.
Make the move faster
While planning the move with your kids has its benefits, if you drag it out too long they will become tired of it. So hire residential movers NJ to help you move your things safely and quickly. Making a few round trips to pick up all your belongings that make the new home feel incomplete. But by hiring movers you will be able to transport all your cargo in one go. All that will be left to do is unpack everything and sort it out.
Don’t neglect them after you moved
If you managed to get them excited about the move you might feel that your work is done. They seem happy and have accepted their new home. But even after you moved into your new house or apartment you need to keep communicating. Answer their questions and show them what your new location has to offer. It will help your kids cope with moving stress by making them feel comfortable in the city. This is especially important if you moved across the country. The whole culture will be different and your kids will have trouble fitting in.
Show your kids the new neighborhood
You have been to many different parts of the city and the country. But your children probably didn’t. And their new environment can seem alien to them. To help your kids cope with moving stress make sure you talk a long walk or a drive with them. Show them everything that your new location has to offer. Find some stores that they might like and visit them together. By introducing them to their new surroundings you will help them understand it better.
Try and help them make friends
While most kids would be embarrassed by their parents who want to help them, they sometimes need the help. If you see that your kid made a new friend invite them over. Don’t be too pushy but give them the opportunity to spend more time with their friends.
Talk to a psychiatrist
If your kids still have problems adjusting consider visiting a psychiatrist. They are professionals that have a much better understanding of how your kid thinks. And they will have a much better chance to help your kids cope with moving stress. A psychiatrist can help them adjust and cope with the change.