The Mom Crowd

When you’re moving, there’s so much to think about that it can be easy to overlook some very important things – such as how your kids are feeling. Naturally, you would hope that your kids are excited about relocating. Contrary to popular belief, many school-aged children can begin to feel a bit insecure and uneasy about the move.

The Uncertainty of Moving

Children enjoy familiarity in their lives. Their home, school, friends, and family are essentially the foundation of what they’re used to. No matter how great the new place may be, they can still feel a bit insecure about moving away from what they’re accustomed to. As a parent, it will be important for you to try and help ease their anxieties. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:

1. Provide Protection

You’ll want your children to feel safe and secure about the new place. There are plenty of things you can do to make sure that they will be safe. For starters, investing in homeowners or renters insurance will replace their personal belongings in the event that it gets damaged or stolen in the new property. Other ways to provide protection would be to consider investing in a security system. This way if there are any fears of intruders, they can be put to rest.

2. Prioritize

Yes, there’s a lot to do when you’re moving, but it is important that you keep your children and their feelings at the top of your list of priorities. While it may seem feasible to unpack and get things in order, if your kids are feeling down, it may be best to focus your attention on them so that they know you care.

3. Get Into a Routine

While you can’t take your old home with you, you can start familiar routines that will make your children feel more at home. Whatever routines you used to do in your old home like eating breakfast together, having family time, or even a bedtime ritual, you should try to get back to those things as soon as possible. Even in the midst of mayhem.

4. Let Them Help

When you arrive at your new place, allow your children to be a part of the process to turn the house into a home. Let them unpack their belongings for their rooms for instance, or assist you with putting things away around the house. When they have something to do, they feel included and less stressed about being in a new place.

5. Give Them Time

Your children will begin to notice changes about the new place or neighborhood, and this could ultimately make them a bit sad all over again. It is important to give them time to adjust to the newness of it all. You can encourage them by pointing out some of the positives you’ve noticed in the area. For instance, maybe there’s a community pool that you didn’t have where you used to live. This can help them to see the advantages to moving.

6. Take Care of You

This is probably something moms don’t often do, but it is necessary – take care of yourself. Moving is a lot of work, and as you tend to the responsibilities of moving and the psychological affects it has on your children, you could easily burn out. Therefore, make sure that you’re getting a well-balanced diet and enough rest so that you have the energy to get it all done.

Moving might seem like an easy feat for you, but for your children, it can be one of the biggest losses they’ve had to face yet. Though your children should adapt to the change in a short period of time, it is important that you provide support and allow them the time they need to adjust. Be there for them in a way that matters most. While they may not live in the same home, they still have you as their rock to see them through.