Ways to Help Children Adjust to Their New Home

Find Ways to Help Children Adjust to Their New Home
For many adults, a move is an exciting adventure…a new opportunity.  For many children (especially older ones) it's a difficult change.  Whether you're in the process of moving, or your family recently moved, I think you'll find that taking extra time to help your kids adjust to their new home can make a big difference.

If your children are toddlers or younger, the biggest adjustment is likely just getting used to the feel of a new home.  To make the transition as easy as possible, my advice is to pack up their room in the old home last, and set it all back up in their new home first. Keeping things consistent and maintaining a regular schedule as much as possible will help them adjust more quickly.

School-age children pose a bit more of a challenge, and the older they are, the more challenging it may be.  Once children have settled into a neighborhood and school with friends and teachers they know, love, and feel comfortable with, it can be overwhelming to think about starting over.  Adolescence is hard enough without the anxiety of a big move.  Be patient and allow them adequate time to "grieve" the activities, friends, school, and anything familiar they have left behind.  Talking is key here.  Keep the doors of communication open.

I love the idea of making moving a family project. You can help children adjust to their new home by getting them in involved in the process as much as possible. You've probably noticed that children often mimic the behavior we set before them. So use your zeal and excitement to encourage the same from them (even if you have to fake it a little). Let the kids help plan out their new room; pick the bedding, figure out where everything is going to go etc.  It makes the prospect of a new home more enticing.  And use all of their extra energy to your advantage when you get there— put them to work unpacking their own room!  

Whatever you do, provide as much continuity as possible. This whole process naturally comes with some level of chaos, confusion, disorder and stress (though hopefully it's manageable).  When you alleviate much of the negative, it provides a much smoother transition.  Just use the time prior to moving to research your new neighborhood, surroundings and schools so children can get as much information as possible about their new area.  Show them pictures, read reviews, visit websites, request weekly news papers and a relocation guide— this stuff will give them a better idea of what to expect.

Then once you get settled in, encourage relationship building activities as much as possible. Get hooked up with familiar clubs and organizations join a church youth group, get involved in sports or arts/music activities. Giving them plenty of opportunities to meet new friends will make the adjustment much easier.