You know that moving can be stressful for you and any other adults that are in the house. You have to deal with the reality of packing up, finding a new place to call home, going through the logistics of getting things ready for the move, and doing the actual packing and moving. On top of everything else that you have to do in your life, this can be more than most people like to handle. It is no wonder that most people feel frustrated, stressed, and burned out when they are moving.
However, you aren’t the only ones you are feeling this. The kids, even if they are young and aren’t doing any of the literal heavy lifting when it comes to moving, will feel stress. They can see that the adults are stressed, and this will affect them, even if they are too young to really understand what’s happening. Those that are a little bit older have a vague idea of what moving entails, but they aren’t sure what’s happening. This can be a very frightening time for them.
You think like an adult who is moving, not like a kid who is not quite sure what’s happening. Things that make sense to you won’t make sense to the kids. There are stories from some parents of little ones worrying that their mom and dad might not take them along with them when they move. They are worried that they won’t take their pets with them, or that they will never see their friends again. Kids have a lot to think about, and it is the job of their parents and guardians to make it better.
All you need to do is be honest with them when they ask questions, and they will ask questions. Answer them as best you can in ways that will make sense to them.
As the kids get a bit older and have a better understanding of what’s happening, you still have to take time to talk things over with them. The problems of these older children are different from those of the little ones. Kids who are in school are concerned about moving to a new area where they do not know anyone. Many times, they are going to be upset, but you can help to make things better.
Moving today is not quite the same as it was a few decades ago. When someone moves today, they can still keep in touch easily thanks to all of the various online sources that are available for them. This can at least be some comfort to those who will be moving and worry about losing friends.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to showcase as many of the positives as possible when it comes to moving. Let the kids know more about the new place where they will be living, let them make some choices about how they will decorate their room, and talk with them about all of the great things there will be to see and do when they move to that new location. Go online with them and help them to get acquainted with the new area. Maybe you will be moving to Toronto. Look up all of the things there are to see and do in Toronto that they might like. Make the experience of moving a fun and exciting adventure.
Depending on the age of the children, it is also possible for them to become involved in the moving process. One of the first things that you will want to have them do is go through their things and choose items that they no longer need and that they might be able to donate. This will help you out, as you will not have to move quite as many things. Organizing what they have can help them feel as if they have more control. There is one caveat to this, though. If there are certain items that the child really wants to keep and they are already having a hard time moving, now it not the best time to have them give up those belongings.
While you might want to provide some guidance and supervision depending on just how young the kids are, they can help with some of the packing that you are doing. If you aren’t quite sure that they will be able to do a good job with the packing, you could always have them take care of labeling the boxes instead. If you aren’t sure if they would be much help with the labeling, you will still want to keep them involved with the process. Have them help with planning a going away party, where they can invite their friends.
As we stated, moving can be stressful. Watch for rising stress in the kids, and in you, as the moving process moves forward. If it gets to the point where you feel too much of your own stress or the kids seem stressed, it’s time to take a break. Don’t get to the point where there is yelling or crying. Take a break, relax, watch a favorite show or have some ice cream. Go back to the move when things are calmer.
Moving is hard work no matter your age and no matter how many times you might have moved in the past. Therefore, you want to make sure that you have some solid help along the way that can get you from Point A to Point B. Get the help you need when it comes to moving, storage, junk removal, cleaning, and more. Take as much of the hard work out of moving as possible by working with the professionals, and then it won’t seem like such a monumental task. Use us to find and compare moving estimates and more.
