Moving can be a difficult experience for people of any age, but for children the change can be especially tough. Whether your children are young or in their teenage years, moving to a new home is likely to leave them with plenty of questions. Moving, however, can be made easy and even exciting for children if it is explained to them properly. In preparation for your family’s move, take the time to follow some of these tips for explaining moving to your child.

Focus on the positive

The American Academy of Pediatricians notes that during a move, children have a tendency to focus almost exclusively on the negative aspects of the move. They may, for example, worry about losing the friends they already have, about not fitting in at their new school, or about falling behind academically. As a parent your job should be to help your children focus on the positive aspects of moving. Reassure your children that the new school is likely to be similar to their old one and that they will have no trouble making new friends. In some cases, moving could even be an opportunity for children who are already struggling academically or socially to make a new start in a new environment. Remember, also, that children love adventure, so making your family’s upcoming move sound like an exciting adventure is one way of helping them to look forward to the big change.

Make your children feel included

Children need time to adjust to big changes in their environment, so make sure you let them know about the move well in advance. Keeping children informed about what is going to happen and why also helps them feel included in the process. On that note, it is also important to understand your children’s anxieties about moving. Don’t assume that just because they haven’t said anything about moving that they have no worries or questions. Take the time to sit and talk with them about how they’re feeling and what they are expecting. So long as they have someone sympathetic to their concerns then they will feel much better prepared to handle the big move when it finally arrives.

Moving can be an exciting opportunity for the whole family, but some children may have worries about what such a change will bring to their lives. By being a reassuring and loving parent you will have already taken the most important step to helping your child adjust to his or her life in a new city.

No matter where life is taking you and your family, let us help you get there. Contact us today for an estimate to see how we can make your upcoming move as stress-free as possible.