5 Tips for Helping Children Cope With Moving

Children see a move very differently from you

Children see a move very differently from you. Depending on their age they may not fully understand the concept of moving house and it can be difficult to explain to them. Young children will see it only as having to leave behind their bedroom, friends and school. Moving house can be a major emotional strain on younger children. There are the fears of change to begin with, and on the day itself there is noise, removalists and furniture movers everywhere, and they will see their home (perhaps the only home they've ever known) being packed away into boxes, only to be unpacked again in unfamiliar surroundings. Children can find the removal at least as stressful as adults, if not more so for their confusion. It pays to keep kids calm and preoccupied during this time, or distracted and out of the way if needed. Honesty is very important when it comes to moving. Children will ask questions that will require your attention and an answer that both satisfies them and will ring true in the future. Hyping up your new house into a wonderland of delights will only lead to disappointment. Here's five tips to help your children manage your move with relative ease:

Keep them occupied. Toys, games, a stick and a puddle. Anything that will keep them both out of your way and preoccupied is a must. Your sanity may depend on it.

Hire a babysitter. Have someone look after your children, away from the house, during the whole time you're moving. Be sure to let them know where you are, what's happening to the house and visit them regularly if you can. Family and friends who can't lift heavy items and still want to help are a great resource here.

Take play breaks. The moving needs to be done, yes. But your children need your attention too. It won't take long to have a small chat with them every hour or two. If you can, give them a project to do whilst you're working and let your return visits turn into status updates. This will keep them occupied without wondering when you'll return.

Pack children's belongings last. If your children are staying in the house on the day of the move, try to leave their room intact until the rest of the house is packed up. Obviously this can be an impractical method, but it will get your children used to the idea that the contents of the house are moving somewhere else, but the house is staying behind.

Make it into a game. Your child might be excited about the move and will want to be involved. If so, don't stop them! This is probably the best outcome of telling your child about moving house. If they're interested, give them simple tasks like constructing boxes and create a game from the job. Make sure you remain involved in the game by keeping time or scoring. Offering a reward will often add extra incentive.

Generally children don't take change well. Having to move from their homes; leaving behind their bedrooms, friends and schools, is a massive undertaking for your children, and it pays to be aware that the emotional pressure on them is on a par, if not greater, than yours. There is a lot to think about when moving, but don't forget to pay attention to your children, it will make your life a lot smoother in the new house.

5 Tips for Helping Children Cope With Moving

By: Michael Gibbons

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