A move is a complicated event no matter what age you are, but it is especially confusing and scary for your kids. Everything that they’ve known is being tossed to the wind, and they’re facing everything from leaving their old friends behind to having to figure out a new school. With all of this turmoil, they’re going to be under a tremendous amount of stress. Here at A-1 Freeman, we’ve
helped families move time and time again, and over the years we’ve seen techniques that can help your kids acclimate to their new location.
Start by establishing a familiar routine for your kids. This should be pretty easy, as their house may have changed, but their day to day should be mostly the same. They still need to get up, have breakfast, get cleaned up, and everything else.
You should also schedule time to visit the school prior to their first day. This will let you meet the teacher and show your kids around so they can see their new classroom in a less stressful situation. Take them out to the playground and let them play on the jungle gym a bit. This will help them feel a bit more familiar with their surroundings when school starts.
If they’re interested in sports and other activities, find them a club or group that they can sign up for. This will help them meet new kids their age and make friends. It’ll also help them feel grounded when they become an integral part of a team, allowing their transition to be much smoother.
The main thing is to just help them get out and meet new people while getting them accustomed to their new area at the same time. By doing these things shortly after your move, you’ll be able to help them feel like everything is normal again quickly.
