Change can be good; but good does not equate to stressfree. Adults can have a very difficult time uprooting themselves and relocating, so you can imagine how much more stressful this is on the younger members of your family. For your children, they may have only ever known one home and have established it as the source of all good memories. Moving your kids to a new home can be a difficult task, but there are a few tips to help make it easier.
Listen to Their Input
One of the biggest problems with moving is that it is often a consensus made by the parents, without any input from the kids. At any age, it can be helpful for your kids to get a feel for the decision making process and have some say about their new home.
Let your kids make a list of things that are important to them in the new home, example, big treehouse, game room, by the park, etc. While not all requests can be honored, finding a few things to help get them excited about the new house can help ease the transition.
Share the House-Hunting Process
Your kids may not be able to understand the importance of heated floors or covered parking, but they may see possibilities or constraints in the home you aren’t aware of. Kids will look at the home through a different lens and ask important questions, such as: “where is the dog going to sleep? Where will we put my bike? Can I climb those trees?”
If it is feasible, it can be nice to let the kids visit prospective homes with you. It can also help influence your decision to see your children in the space that could possibly become their home. When actual visits are not a good option, consider viewing real estate online and letting your children see some pictures. It’s also a good idea to walk about the neighborhood and examine if the sewers and gutters are maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. If you haven’t already, you could contact companies like Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Sarasota to ensure that your home is clutter-free.
Allow Them To Decorate
A difficult part of transitioning can be getting your children to see themselves in a new space. One way to make this aspect easier is to allow your children to decorate their new rooms. Let them pick paint swatches and build a “dream board” of what they want their new room to look like. Have them draw out where they will place each of their items in the new space. Personalizing an empty space can help kids accept their different room and new home.
Visit the Neighborhood
After you have decided on a home to buy, a good way to help the kids integrate into the neighborhood is to visit. Spend a day at the local parks, visit your new house and walk to a local spot for lunch. You will be surprised how much more quickly your children will get on board with a house if there is a pizza place within walking distance!
