Moving to a new area is never easy, especially when you’re a kid. Switching schools and making new friends is always a tough situation for a child. Here are some simple and helpful tips for how to tell your kids about moving. The moving talk will help your children adjust to the big move and see it in a positive light.
WaysTo Tell Your Kids You Are Moving
First things first. When you tell your kids you are moving- be clear about your meaning, right away/ Are you moving out by yourself? Are you moving with kids after divorce? Is the whole family moving because you have a new job? Chose your words with care because when you say you are moving they are going to be trying to make sense of exactly who is moving and why.
Tips To Prepare Your Child For A Move
Bring Up the Move
Plan a time to break the news to your kids that you are going to be moving. Pick a time when there will plenty of time to talk and answer questions. You don’t want it to be rushed. Most commonly they’re going to have concerns. Listen to their concerns and really try to understand where they are coming from, that way you can give them the best ways to approach their upcoming situations. Let them know that you understand how they feel and you know it’s never easy adjusting to a new home, school and friends.
Provide Information to Ease Moving Fears and Grow Excitement for the Move
Secondly, be prepared with some research on the new area and the new schools that you will be moving to. Information on what is around and available for them can really ease the worries they have about the unknown. Finding a popular place in your new area that kids love will not only give them an opportunity outside of school to make new friends but will also give them a place to look forward to discovering.
Involve Your Children in Planning For the Move
Third, let them make suggestions on how to adjust. Don’t make the mistake of just talking at your kids about moving. Having them actively participate in the conversation will help them to feel as though they are a part of the decision to move and also have some control in adjusting to the move. Based on the concerns they share with you, ask them questions to get them thinking about the challenges they feel they are going to face. Make it fun for them and if at all possible try to keep it light-hearted. This is an exercise that should ultimately get them thinking of ways to problem solve and feel comfortable in their new situations and to find the positive aspects of the challenges they face.
Share Your Excitement About the Move
Lastly, they will be looking to you as an example. Stay positive and excited while leading up to and during the move. Keeping things as fun and light-hearted as possible will help them to feel re-assured about the move and their new home. Moving can be physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing on a person and even worse for a child. Making this a fun experience for them that they feel they are very much a part of can provide them with the peace of mind to make the whole move that much easier.
Good luck with your moving talk! Feel free to leave your tips in the comments if you have moved with your children before.
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