Moving With Children: How To Make It Easier
There are many reasons as to why people relocate from one place to another. It could be anything, from convenience to transfers in the workplace. In this case, you should have clear plans on how you are going to move to your next location. It is important that you get organised in advance so that you can have an easy time on the moving day.
Relocating bring up strong emotions, especially when you have children. Your entire life is going to change. You will leave behind everything you knew within your place of residence. Your children are going to miss’ their friends, lifestyles, familiar surroundings and so on.
You will realise that these are the things that make then happy all the time. For older kids, this means letting go of school and their friends from home. As a parent, you can follow a few tips that can help you move with your children and have a smooth transition. These include:
1. Inform Them Early Enough
It is important that you inform your children that you will be moving well before the move. Do not bring up the issue of moving one day prior to the moving day – whether your child is primary school age or high school age, inform them early enough so that they can get organised.
If your children are really young, explain to them what ‘moving’ will involve and what it means for them. This way, you will prepare them psychologically so that they can know what to expect in the next few weeks.
Expect different reactions – sadness, maybe anger, maybe even excitement. No matter what their response, they will come to accept the move eventually.
2. Make A List Of Wants
When looking for your new house, you might try to find one that covers as many wants on your list as possible. For example, if you have several kids, you might consider getting a house that has several rooms if that’s within your budget.
You might also want to make sure there are facilities around that cater to your child’s hobbies as well. If they enjoy performing, make sure there is a drama club around for them to join or if they like sports, try and find an after-school sports team for them to become a part of.
You can find a number of these facilities in Wrexham – why not check out the Bitesize Youth Theatre, Wrexham Netball Club, or Wrexham Rugby Union Football Club?
These are some of the wants that you should check so that you can fulfil them as best you can.
3. Involve Your Kids In The Search Process
You can take your kids with you when looking for a house; let them share with you their opinions about your potential new home, and involve them in deciding the one that suits your family. You can also try to consider their opinion so that they can feel their contributions are appreciated and valued.
This will also enable them to see the area they will be living in, making the actual move less of a shock when the day comes. Allow them time to explore the neighbourhood a little while you’re there so they can become more familiar with it, making them even more involved and hopefully making it easier for them to adjust.
When moving to Wrexham, you might choose to take them to local well-known places like the town centre or Bellevue Park in addition to the specific village in the area you will be moving to.
4. Allow Them To Pack
It is important that you allow your children to pack some of their own things and even label the boxes – young children can sort out their toys easily. This will help them feel like they are part of things and a little bit more in control, as well as allowing them to get used to the whole moving process.
You might not be pleased by how they pack their own belongings, but you should not deny them this chance!
Let them pack so that they can know that they had a part in the move. If they’re old enough, let them pack other belongings besides their own as well – give them some bubble wrap and leave them to it! This will make them feel positive about the whole undertaking and maybe even make them excited about the move.
5. Take Care Of The Young Ones
During moving day, there are a lot of things that take place. Your young ones could get injured when movers are packing your items into a moving truck if you don’t keep an eye on them.
However, this doesn’t have to be an issue.
It is advisable that they remain with your house help or a family member so that they can remain safe until the whole process is finished. This can also help you a great deal, as you know your children are safe and can focus on getting everything moved.
6. Allow Your Child To Carry Their Favourite Toy Separately
You should not pack your child’s teddy bear or other favourite toy with the rest of the items. You will realise that your child values this a lot. You should allow them to carry it separately – packing it with other items may annoy your child.
7. Talk To Your Children Regularly
It is important that you take your time with your little ones. Remember that your kids may feel confused during this time. They may have a lot of questions and concerns that need to be addressed, and it’s vital you take these seriously.
Some of them will feel anxious that they are relocating to a new place. You can take time out and explain to them the reason why you have decided to relocate and encourage them to keep in contact with their friends from your old home. Provide plenty of reassurance and comfort during the entire transition.
To make things easier for young children, organise a leaving party where all their friends are invited as well as any family members that live in that area. This will take their mind off the move and allow them to spend time with those who matter to them most, turning the experience into an exciting one.
8. Get A Change Of Address Form
It is important to get a change of address form because you will not be using your previous address. You have to change your address with everyone that is important to inform. The post office should be the first place to go for a change of address form.
It is important that you make a list of the other places that need to know so that everyone who is important to you is notified in advance. This will go a long way in ensuring that your personal information does not get into the hands of a stranger.
If you have someone that you trust, it is a good idea to have your mail forwarded to their address for a while before you move, just in case your mail transfer does not go through the first time you submit it.
9. Get Your Kids Schooled
If you have school age kids, you should contact their new school to inform them that you are moving to that area. If there were report forms that were in the previous school, you should collect them in advance.
Once you get to your new home, look around the local schools properly and find one that suits your children. This will go a long way in ensuring that there is a smoother transition for your kids.
Wrexham has a number of outstanding schools, from Barker’s Lane CP to St. Joseph’s Anglican and Catholic High. Take the time to find one that is right for your child.
Summary
These are some of the tips that can help you move with your children. It is important that you consider the concerns of your children when relocating to a new home. Let them have a smooth transition so that they can enjoy life in their next home.
They might feel stressed at first but will cope with it as time goes by. Give them time to adjust to the new environment – this will help you a great deal.