Moving house is stressful enough in itself, but it is just as important to remember that the settling-in process can take some time when moving home. When you are moving, whether it’s across the country or around the corner, a new environment is going to have an impact on your child. So what can you do to make sure that you help your children get settled into a new place?
4 Tips To Help Your Children Settle Into A New Home
Unpack Your Child’s Room First
When you are settling into a new location, we need to make their rooms a priority. Getting their things into the new place will help your children feel more comfortable. This could very well mean that for the sake of the rest of the house, you may need to keep items in storage for a couple of days. There are storage suppliers, especially if there isn’t much space in the home and you have to play Home Tetris with everything! It’s so important to get your children settled in a new location by making sure that the new room looks as close to their old room as possible.
Acknowledge Their Emotions
You may very well be busy trying to get everything ready but moving is a very emotional time, and it’s one of the most stressful things that we can ever undergo. Depending on your child, they may not know how to express themselves or they could choose to give you the cold shoulder. Whatever it is, you need to talk to them appropriately. This guide on https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bridging-the-gulf/ is a great place to begin.
You have to remember that your children are going to feel a variety of emotions, and you shouldn’t ignore them and focus on packing thinking they will sort themselves out. Make sure that they are able to express themselves appropriately. Just bring them into the conversation and allow them to be a part of the process.
Get Back Into Your Routine
After the move, get back onto a normal schedule. This means re-establishing the regular meal times and bedtime routines as this will make life feel more normal. These are the structures upon which we hang our lives. It is so important that we don’t neglect these, even if we think that moving to a new location is a way to start again.
Take Time to Unpack the Other Rooms
You don’t need to unpack the rest of the house. If you’ve got things in storage, they can stay there for a few days, and this will allow you more breathing space to allow your child to settle into a new school. It’s important to focus on the children and make sure we have fun in the new home. It’s far better for you to focus on creating new memories. Unpacking the boxes is not a priority, so it can wait!
Settling in will not happen overnight, sometimes your children will just want to go back to where they were. Give it time and just allow them to process the emotions as they need to.
Conclusion
Moving to a new home can be an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved, particularly for children who may find the change more daunting. Ensuring your child feels comfortable and secure in their new environment is key to a smoother transition.
Prioritizing the setup of your child’s room, acknowledging their feelings, quickly re-establishing routines, and taking time to create new memories over unpacking boxes are essential strategies. Remember, while the physical move might be completed in a day, the emotional settling-in process takes time and patience.
By focusing on your child’s needs and giving them space to adjust at their own pace, you’ll help them embrace the new home as a place of comfort and happiness. With understanding and support, your family can navigate this change together, making the new house feel like home for everyone.
