Why Moving Is Tough For Kids
As the new study published in the Journal of Social and Personality Psychology documents, moves are tough on children and disrupt important friendships. These effects are most problematic for kids who are introverted and those whose personalities tend toward anxiety and inflexibility. One major reason that children are negatively affected by moves is that moves are often precipitated by problems – job location change, a divorce, job loss, etc that are tough on the family. For the children of military families, the challenges of moving—or Permanent Change of Station—are particularly acute. When parents are stressed and upset (and trust me, moving is always stressful) their parenting suffers and the kids always, always notice. Moves are also hardest on kids in the midst of other transitions – like puberty and school changes. Middle school seems to be the toughest time to make a transition.
Tips To Move With Children
- Communicate with your child before move
Discuss the move with your children and tell them everything about the move. Encourage them to ask the questions about new place. Its very important to show the confidence and positive about your move; it will help them to feel more excited and relaxed.
- Lets the kids help you to pack
Include your kids in various stages of moving process. If they are old enough, let your children help you pack some of their personal belongings. Even at a young age, children can sort their toys and help you to wrap their personal goods.
- Research about new place
Help your kids to explore about new place. Look for exciting activities to do together as a family such as places to visit, zoos, parks, museums, local festivals, etc.
- Don’t rush yourself
Its hard to accomplish any task quickly with small children. Give yourself a lot of time to plan and execute your move. For example, in that case you can hire packers and movers they will help you to sort the things easily.
- Pack a special bag of toys with kids’ special things
Pack another bag in which keep all the favorite toys and other things which your kid loves. Keep this bag near to your child through the entire move. Kids can keep special items like dolls, books, or blankets in this bag, in addition to other toys that they can play with on the car trip or plane ride.
- Keep kids things handy
Kids make messes constantly. So, make sure you keep lots of extra clothes, ziploc bags and stain-treating spray close at hand during your move, because you never know when they’ll be needed.
- Maintain familiar routines
Once you’re in your new home, some things will have to change. Try to make it feel like your new home and try to maintain the aspects of your life that are most important to your children. Stick to familiar bedtime routines and continue your tradition.
- Partner with a kid friendly moving company
On moving day, you’ll likely be bogged down with the logistics of coordinating with your moving company and packing up the other things, which can leave your children feeling overlooked in the entire moving process. There are diverse moving companies out there that have created special measures to make sure the children are taken care of on moving day.
Look around on the moving company’s website or blog, and see if they have special offers or services directed toward children.
No matter what age or stage your family members are at, we can help your family have a happy move! PMRGO is a family-owned business that takes every person’s well-being into account from the head of the household to the youngest tyke. Give us a call to learn how our team can make the move easier for your whole family
