8 Cardinal Tips on Moving With Small Children

Children take time to adjust but once they are settled in familiar surroundings they find it hard to accept changes overnight. Toddlers especially find it hard when their entire world is torn apart.  You may have decided on moving to a different country or neighborhood and require to consider several factors. Moving can prove quite disruptive and very traumatic for little kids. Here are a few tips to help you cope when moving with little children to a new home.

1. Get your family together and talk to them casually about the planned move. Make sure there is enough of good food to keep them in an amiable mood. Talk to them about why you plan to move and how it will be good for the entire family. If this is going to be their first-time moving, you may be met with different reactions. Your child may be curious, excited, scared, rebellious or just angry that you wish to leave the neighborhood you are in. You should tell them that you are depending on their help to make the transition smooth. If you have a five year old, use a few of her toys to explain the moving process. Keep the explanations simple and make it sound like a lot of fun by telling it like a story.
2. When you are looking for a new place, involve the whole family in the process. Your children should be able to help you narrow down the choice. If you are moving out of town then you can take them on a virtual tour of the home from the comfort of your own home. Ideally, you should look for a home that is close to the school, hospital and other facilities. Listen to them intently and discuss the pros and cons to make them feel as if their views count. This will make them more open to suggestions.
3. This is a good time to ask the children to help you decide on the items that you wish to take to your new home and those items that you would like to junk. Be especially carefully not to hurt their feelings by suggesting you throw out stuff that holds special memories for them.
4. Find out more about the activities in the new neighborhood and town. Do not overdo the selling part but be honest and practical when discussing different issues.  Learn more about the community and school and let them also find out by reading online. They will then have many points to share with you and discuss. Involving them is a sure way to get them to move without too many regrets.
5. Let them select their own rooms and plan the décor. If you have a young girl she will want to do up her room with pretty colors and knick-knacks. Your son may feel important when you let him select the colors and give him permission to put up pictures of his favorite rock star or sports person.
6. Saying good bye to the neighbors and old friends is always hard to do. Your children will find it hard to leave their friends behind. Plan a farewell party for them and include all the friends they would like to invite. Ask them to write down the email addresses and telephone numbers of their friends so that they can keep in touch. Tell them that you hope they visit you in your new home. If you move not too far away from your old home, you could get permission from the parents to plan a weekend visit or let them meet midway and catch up on old times.
7. Get them involved in the packing. They should be allowed to help store some items in the boxes and make sure to label them correctly. This will help them to sort out their things and put them away in the new home. If you have a toddler try to make the room look as close to the last one in the initial months as this will help to get them acclimatized faster. They should be able to access their toys and items that they play with regularly. Talking to them and soothing their fears away by giving them some extra loving will help tide the dark moments and quell their anxieties. Most often you will find that kids are adaptable and resilient to moving provided you are around when they voice their concerns.
8. Take pictures of the old home and certain areas where your child has been playing more often than not. You can even take pictures of the neighborhood and pin them on a memory board to remind her of the old place when you move into your new home.