Moving is complicated and stressful. Having kids who are scared of or resent the move makes the entire process significantly harder. The good news is that there are some things you can do that will make the process less stressful for your kids.
Get Excited
Kids, especially young kids, usually reflect their parents. If you’re stressed out about the upcoming move, there’s a good chance that you’re young kids will be as well. If you’re excited about the upcoming move, your kids will also be enthused. Whenever your kids are around, strive to keep your mood upbeat and enthusiastic. You won’t believe how much easier this makes the entire process.
Make The Packing/Moving Process a Bonding Experience
Many parents try to make the moving process, especially the packing process, something they exclude their kids from. They are worried that their kids will slow things down or break stuff. The problem with this is that it can make kids fearful, especially if they come home and find that half the house seems to have mysteriously disappeared into boxes.
You can make the process less stressful for your kids by including them in the process. Not only should you encourage them to help pack things, but look for ways you can turn the experience into a game. The packing might take a little longer but you’ll share some laughs and make some treasured memories.
Incorporate Some Fun Activities
It’s easy to let the move consume all of your time and energy, this makes kids wonder if they’re as important to you as the upcoming move. It’s important to incorporate things like trips to the park, family walks, and movie nights into the moving process. Not only does this lend some normalcy to the experience but also helps put your kid’s minds at ease. You’ll also find that these fun moments help you recharge your mental batteries, which actually makes the move less stressful for you.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
It’s easy to lose your temper or feel like things are falling apart during a move. Instead of getting worked up about little things, like boxes being mislabeled or a room not being quite as cleared out as you’d hoped it would be at a particular time, take a deep breath and remind yourself it’s not the end of the world. Your child will appreciate your more laid-back approach and eventually, you will too!