Moving is a family event. Even if this decision is up to the parents, you must always take into consideration your child’s reactions to ensure that this stage of your life goes as smoothly as possible. To best prepare your child for the move, here are a few tips to guide you through this stage.

 

 

1. Make a list of three reasons to look forward to the move.
Depending on the child’s age, think of three reasons to look forward to the move. Find sports teams or activities that your child might be interested in. Then find out what’s special about your new neighborhood and think about why you bought your new home. Is the yard bigger? Is there a park nearby? Is there a good soccer team or dance class? Are there lots of other kids living on the same street? These are just a few reasons to look forward to. The opportunity to decorate your own room is another.

 

2. Show off the neighborhood.
If you’re moving nearby, take a walk around the neighborhood and show your kids the street, the house, and their new school. Explore the neighborhood parks and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant. That way, they’ll be familiar with their neighborhood when you move in. If you’re moving away from home, explore the area on Google Maps.

 

3. Pack accordingly
Involve your children in the preparations: before packing, ask them to sort out any unused or unhelpful toys or items with you, in order to lighten your move. If you have a child who is too small to participate, ask grandparents or friends to watch them on the days you pack.

 

 

4. Bring your children to moving day
On the (big) day, you may want to arrange for a babysitter to watch your children or, why not, have the babysitter come to the house? By seeing first-hand how their things are moved from their old home to the new one, your children will be better able to understand the process. Of course, they don’t have to be there all day. A few hours is enough.

5. Make the new home attractive
Let’s talk about what will be new and the good things!

Create excitement about the new room by having them choose their own wall colors, accessories, etc. Determine the colors or the theme of the future room by shopping together for furniture, decorative accessories like decorative pillows, or even a new bed set!

 

 

6. Make sure you maintain a sense of regularity
In the hustle and bustle of moving, keeping a routine is probably one of the biggest challenges. With your children, try to maintain daily rituals, such as eating breakfast together or reading them a bedtime story. This will make the transition from your old home to your new home much easier.

Before and after the move, keep an eye on your child to see if the adjustment is going well. Keep in touch with his or her teachers and discuss the situation with your children so that they feel comfortable expressing their feelings. You can tell them that the situation is stressing you out too, but that you are happy because there are great things ahead. Finally, let the experts at Déménagement Laval et Rive Nord take care of the move so that you can concentrate on your children.