With rents on the rise, many families are prospecting to move to more affordable locations. And it makes sense because one thing the COVID-19 highlighted for many companies and individuals is that people can still do their jobs remotely.
And as disruptive as the move can be, it can be more traumatic for the children who, in most cases, are left out in the decision-making process. Children of all ages will deal with the move differently.
First, they will feel lost! Second, they lose their old friends, and the new place you move into will feel like they do not belong.
They don’t fall asleep easily, especially if they were used to the old home and if at all they sleep, they do not sleep well!
They wake up in new places. Some of the bigger kids get angry and sad, and this can lead to mental issues.
For the little children, patterns of regress start forming. A move isn’t something to be taken lightly. During the transition phase, when still deciding, you need to pay extra attention to the children. But how do you do that? The following are tips to help you make the moving process less stressful for the children.
The Decision to Move
This is where to begin helping your children to have a softer landing.
You need to realize that many children thrive and do well in an environment that they are familiar with. Likewise, they do well where they have established some sort of a routine.
When that is taken away, they will obviously pull back, forcing them to start all over.
As such, when deciding to move, it is vital to first weigh the options at hand against the comfort established by the familiarity of the surroundings, school, and social life your kids already have.
Assuming that you may be already dealing with a major life change, for example, the death of a family member, or a divorce, it is crucial first to postpone the move if possible to give your kids enough time to adjust.
Where the decision to move is totally out of your control, for instance, assuming that you are moving because of your job, or financial issues, it is important to maintain your ‘cool’ during this phase. one thing you have to understand is that during this phase, a parents moods and attitude can greatly affect the child who may be looking for reassurance.
Let Your Children In On The Decision To Move
I feel this is where most adults make the terrible mistake of not letting their children know that they are planning to move.
The most important way to protect your children is to let them know, preparing them for the move. You must give your children as much information as possible and be open about it as you possibly can. Answer all the questions they might have and be completely transparent and receptive to both the positive and negative reactions they project.
Sometimes I know that the decision to move may improve the family condition and that you may be well-meaning, but kids don’t always understand this. Instead, they are mostly glued to the frightening aspect of the move.
The advantage of involving your children in this process makes them feel like participants rather than outsiders to the house-hunting process. Involve them every step of the way, and you see how fun it’ll be even searching for the new school. It will make a move feel less like a forced circumstance on them.
If you are moving to a remote location, let the kids know which city they are moving into.
Help them explore the city and their neighborhood and finally their new home.
Let them learn about their community, show them or find out together where they can participate in their favorite activities. This is important as it will give the children a softer landing and an easy time adjusting to the new environment.
Once you have Moved
You must reestablish the routine the kids were familiar with as quickly as possible. For example, have their rooms unpacked as soon as the move happens and get back to normal routines like mealtimes, bedtimes, and playtimes. This familiarity will establish some sense of security and comfortability.
Go with the children on their first day at school and meet their teachers.
Ask the teacher to reach out to you if there are concerns with the child. If you don’t hear from the teacher, check in with them after maybe four weeks to see how the child is adjusting.
Yes, the move can be traumatizing for the child, but doing it right can help not just the children but the whole family, bringing you all together.
About the Power Is Now Media
The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com
