You have finally found it, your dream home, complete with everything you could ever have asked for. You have placed an offer, and it is now yours. All that you need to do is pack up and move in, only, things can get a bit more complicated when you have children involved. Both young and older children are very attached to their home and their surroundings, and especially the friends they have made at their school. It doesn’t matter how much better their new neighborhood will be, or that they will undoubtedly make friends, what does matter is what they are leaving behind.
Their feelings, of course, are perfectly valid. That is why you should follow these tips to help them see the positive side and make the whole experience fun for everyone in your family:
Show Them Around Their New Home
If the first time they see their new house is the day they move, you’ve made a mistake. Your kids should know where they are moving to and what the neighborhood is like. Go out together as a family to see the property, enjoy a nice meal at a local restaurant, play in the park, and generally just have fun. The more they see how much they will love their new neighborhood, the more open they will be to the move.
Sign Them Up to Local Organizations
If you live close enough to drive, it is wise to sign them up for after-school organizations and even school before you move. Local organizations like sports teams will be more than happy to accept you so long as you are willing to make the commute for the month or two between your move-in date, and during that time your kids can make new friends.
As for the school, try to enroll your kids not when you move, but at the start of the new school year. Again, if you live within driving distance and can manage it, try to drive your kids to school so that they can finish the year at their old school and start the year at their new school. If you are moving in the middle of the year, of course, a transfer will be necessary.
Make Move Day Fun
You can make move day fun easily, and all it requires is hiring the best movers for the job. You can get any service you like depending on your budget. You can get a do-it-yourself kit to help you pack, or you can pay to have professional movers pack your belongings for you. Once the stress of moving is gone, all you need to do is make it fun. Go out for a big breakfast at a restaurant, play lawn games as the movers unpack, and have a family movie night at the end of the day. The more fun the day is, the better their first memory of their new home will be.
Moving with kids doesn’t have to be a challenge. Instead, make the move fun and help them make friends before you even move.
