Helping Kids Through a Long-Distance Move: Tips for a Smooth Adjustment
After you’ve found your gorgeous new home (we hope you found it on the Parade of Homes), then there’s the move. Here are some excellent suggestions from our guest blogger Alex Robbins.
When you’re moving your children to a new home in another part of the country, helping them transition smoothly is going to be a top priority. Changes like this can be stressful for kids, but some advance preparation and guidance can have a big impact on how quickly they adjust to their new community.
Focus on the positive as you leave your old home
The process of packing up and moving cross-country tends to put everybody on edge, and parents will want to give young children some flexibility and grace when things get hectic. Apartment Therapy notes that it is important to maintain a positive vibe as the move progresses. If you appear upset or worried about the changes taking place, they will sense that and start feeling the same way.
It is difficult for kids to leave their home and head someplace new and unknown, so help them save some memories before the move. For example, you can take pictures or make videos of their room, the neighborhood, and the people who are meaningful to them before moving so they can keep those memories fresh.
Designate one moving box that each child can decorate and fill with his or her favorite things. You will want to keep this box with you or easily accessible so that it can be unpacked right away in the new home. When the family arrives at the new place, give kids a chance to look around the house on their own terms.
Get out and explore your new area as soon as possible
Children are often intimidated when starting a new school, so you will want to help them with this transition on multiple fronts. As soon as you can, check out your new neighborhood with your kids and introduce yourselves to families that may be outside as you walk around.
Explore your new community with your kids, and point out attractions that you didn’t have near your old home. Visit the library and parks and be on the lookout for additional places where your children can meet other kids in the area. It can also be helpful to search out parenting groups in the area, as these provide an easy way to connect with other local families.
Plan ahead to help kids adjust to their new school
Of course, a cross-country move means that your child will be starting at a new school. Great Schools recommends creating a wishlist of what you want in a new school with your child’s needs in mind. Once you have your list of “must have” items, utilize online resources like district websites, YouTube, and school review sites to pin down your best options.
Visit the new school with your child before their first official day if possible. This gives them an opportunity to take everything in at their own pace and this can make their first official day less overwhelming. Have all of the required paperwork ready before they start to eliminate potential hiccups and ask about extra-curricular activities that may help your kids connect to their new classmates.
Moving to a new area can be stressful for children, but a little creativity and preparation can help your kids transition smoothly. Keep things positive as you say goodbye to your old place and give children plenty of space to explore their new digs. Check out the new neighborhood as soon as you can and focus on ways that you can help your child acclimate to their new school and community quickly in order to ensure a smooth adjustment.