Moving house is always stressful for both parents and children. But with a little method and common sense, you can help your offspring cope more easily with this important change. How can you prepare your children for the move and help them adapt to their new life? What's the best way to manage a change of school? Tips and tricks to help you deal with the situation as calmly as possible, before, during and after the move.
Understanding a child's stress during a move
Like any change, a move can be stressful for a child. For example, young children often find it difficult to project their family cocoon into a new environment. For older children (up to primary school age), worries mainly concern changes peripheral to the move: school, friends, neighborhood, family organization...
Finally, for teenagers, a move is generally easier to manage materially... but more complicated in terms of relationships. For teenagers, the main difficulty lies in losing their network of friends, which can be a difficult experience. So it's important to support them through this transition.
Before you move: how can you help your children prepare for the change?
To ensure that your children are as prepared as possible for the move, you need to talk to them about it as early as possible, but also listen to them and involve them in the project.
Inform them as soon as the project takes shape
Whether or not you tell your child about the move, sooner or later he or she will see that something is about to happen. To keep them from worrying, tell them about your plans to move as soon as they become clearer, even before you start packing.
Explain to your children why you're moving and what changes are coming. It's very important to emphasize the positive aspects of the move, so that you can
for everyone to take a positive approach to this change in life: school closer to home, dad home earlier in the evening, bigger house...
Listen to their words and reassure them
Whatever their reactions, you need to let your children express themselves, and take advantage of the opportunity to find out what's upsetting them. Don't hesitate to ask them for their opinion, and question them about their feelings to understand what's bothering them.
The point is not to reassure them with your own arguments, but to understand what's worrying them and remedy their fears. You can also share your own emotions with them, to show them that they're not alone in their worries, and that it's perfectly normal.
Involve them in the preparations
To help them see their future, you can take your children with you on a tour of their new home. You can also show them around their new school, their new town, their new neighborhood...
Invite them to take part in the preparations for the move, involving them as much as possible in the sorting, packing and choosing of their new room. It's a way of giving them a sense of control over events.
Moving day: how to get organized with children?
On the big day, we recommend that you arrange for your children to be looked after, so that they don't interfere with the movers' work and leave you fully available to follow the move. This will certainly be easier for you to manage, and less anxiety-provoking for your children. Remind them how the day will unfold, and reassure them that they'll find all their belongings in your new home.
In the order of priorities, furnishing the children's bedroom should obviously be at the top of the list, to ensure that your little ones have the best possible start to their first night in your new home.
After the move: how can you help your children adapt?
For a child, moving house means first and foremost a change of school. But adaptation also takes place outside the school environment, to speed up their integration into their new surroundings.
How can I change schools without worrying about moving?
Obviously, changing schools during the year can be very unsettling for your children. If you have the choice, always move during the summer vacation period. This way, your children will be able to start the new school year in September, just like the other students. This will make it easier for them to settle into their new class.
If not, the school vacations are still a good time to move with children. Notify the new school as soon as possible to facilitate your children's return to school after the holidays.
move. And anticipate a possible break in the school program to compensate for. If need be, you can always arrange for tutoring to catch up on certain notions or lessons missed.
In any case, take the time to visit the school with your children before the big day. This way, they can familiarize themselves with the place before the big day. It's always less intimidating for them to arrive in a place they know.
How can you help your children find their bearings quickly?
As far as possible, you should ensure that your children's habits are preserved in their new home: getting up and going to bed, meals... This routine will reassure them and help them find their bearings more easily.
Give them time to make the change as pleasant as possible, and let time take its course. Think about extracurricular activities to help your children make new friends quickly.
If you're feeling nostalgic, keep in touch with old friends and organize exchanges or get-togethers to maintain the link despite the geographical distance. With a little patience, new habits will develop naturally.
To avoid leaving your children alone on moving day, you can entrust your entire move to professionals. This way, you'll be more available to accompany your offspring as they get to grips with their new living space.
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