10 Things to think about when moving with kids

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There’s something about the idea of a clean slate and fresh start that can often be appealing to adults who are considering a move, but that isn’t usually the case for kids. From giving up their bedroom to leaving their friends and classmates behind, moving can be a traumatic and upsetting experience for kids. Before you pick up stakes to move away from your child’s hometown, it’s wise to consider a few things.

The Reasons for Your Move – The first thing your children are going to want to know is why they’re being forced to abandon their home and friends, so it’s wise to have a reasonable answer to give them. Whether you’re relocating for a better career opportunity or simply to get them out of a questionable school district, your kids deserve to know the reason why their lives are going to be so abruptly and utterly changed.
Sheer Logistics – Packing for a move is difficult enough when you’re a single person. Managing a move when there’s an entire family and children involved is a horse of a different color altogether. Before you start making plans for your new life, you need to figure out the best and most efficient method of gathering up your current one for the big move.
How You Can Get Kids Excited About a New Move – If you can foster a sense of excitement over a move, you’re less likely to face mutiny from angry and frightened kids. Find new and interesting sites in the area where you plan to move and be prepared to gush over them when kids start grumbling after you break the news.
Your Plan for Helping Your Kids Beat the Homesick Blues – No matter how much bigger their room is or how cool their new friends are, your kids are going to miss their old friends, their old room and their old neighborhood. Take your kids’ unique personalities and needs into account when you’re building a plan to help them overcome those feelings of homesickness in advance, so that you’re well prepared when the blues descend.
The Period of Adjustment – Even if they’re excited and not particularly homesick, adjusting to a new place is still going to be a major change for your child and, as such, will require a bit of an adjustment period. Your kids need your support during this tumultuous time, not your frustration. Before you pack the first box of toys, realize that there will be a bit of a rocky path ahead of you and make a commitment to helping them adjust, rather than lashing out in anger.
The Impact of Being “The New Kid” at School – If you never changed schools as a child, you may not realize just how frightening it can be. From standing in front of a crowded classroom full of staring people to the prospect of eating lunch alone, your child will have a host of stressful situations to deal with when she starts her new school, and it’s important that you’re there for her while she weathers them.
How to Help Facilitate Kids’ Existing Friendships – Make plans to get your children’s friends involved in their new lives, set up an email address that will allow them to stay in contact and, if possible, make arrangements for a visit when you’re all settled into your new home. Your kids and their current friends may naturally grow apart over time, but it’s important that you help to facilitate those friendships in the days to come.
Changes That Will Come With the Move – Will your child be getting his own room after years of sharing with a sibling? Will he be moving in with a sibling after a lifetime of having his own space? Whatever changes will be coming your child’s way as a result of the move, it’s wise to be prepared for their effect on him in advance so that you’re well equipped to deal with any issues as they arise.
The School System in Your New Area – Perhaps the most important consideration you’ll have to make when you move to a new area is the quality of the public school system. Make sure that you have an idea of test results and quality, as well as a backup plan for private schools or tuition in another district if the school your new home is zoned to isn’t acceptable.
Activities, Groups and Programs to Help Your Kids Get Acclimated – Sitting in a classroom will put your child in his peers’ presence, but it may not facilitate the building of new relationships. Look for sports programs, arts groups or clubs relevant to his interests to help him find a group with which he has something in common to make the transition run a bit more smoothly.