Moving can be very unsettling for kids. Everything is new, and they often need time to adjust to the changes.
There are a few tips to make things easier for your child if you are moving and to help them settle into their new home quicker.
Moving with kids
✨️ Involve them
Let them help pack their room and be part of the moving process and unpack their bedroom. We also let Hamish help with carrying small items and help in the house as we unpacked.
✨️ Explain the days schedule
Let them know how the day will run. Where they will be. How they can help and what you will be feeding them and when. This keeps them feeling secure in a very unsettling process.
✨️ Show them their new room and home
Hamish wasn’t with us for this particular house viewing, but we did take him along to the others. With this one, I showed him on Google Map where the house was and how far from his familiar things like his Meerkat group and the beach. I also showed him the agent photos so he could start planning how he wanted to have his room look.
✨️ Settle their rooms first
We got Hamishs bed and toys upstairs first. So he would get surrounded by his own stuff, and if he felt overwealned, he could go play in his new room.
✨️ Let them decorate
He completely chose where his bed would go. Put up his own dinosaur posters and place his toy box. He also unpacked his clothing into the cupboard. This way, he knows everything has arrived, and he had control of something during the day.
✨️ Snacks
Kids get hungry, and during a move, adults get distracted. The night before pack a backpack with change of clothing, jacket, 2 juice bottles and snacks so kids can help themselves if you are busy.
✨️Routine
A kids’ routine is important . For that reason, we made sure everything was sorted in time for supper, bathtime & bedtime story, which happened as normal.
✨️ A period to settle in
Just like us, kids need time to adjust and settle. Play is often the best way for kids to find their feet. For that reason, our school day thr day after we moved consisted of reading, journaling about our hew home and a morning of fun playful science experiments. I then left Hamish outside with water to just play.
We have moved a few times and I often find if my children are settled, I am calmer.
