Moving is a tough task as it is, and doing it with children makes the entire project even harder. In today’s economy and climate, many families are forced to move, more than once. These kind of changes are very disruptive for kids’ growth, emotional stability and social skills. That is why it is necessary to give them enough attention, and not to neglect their thoughts and feelings. This goes for smaller children as well as the more grown-up ones. It doesn’t matter how old the child is, the impact will be there in one way or another.
If you want to take care of your children in a proper way, make sure that you have given them enough attention through this transition process. And if you are still not sure where you should move to, check out this article to find out what are the best places to raise a family.
1.Moving with children means not just informing them, but also including them
If you are trying to decide whether or not you should move, the worst thing you should do is not include your kids, especially if they are older. Having doubts means there are many pros and cons. Let your kids be a part of that. Moving with children means taking care of their needs, more than anything else. If they participate in the decision process, it will be much easier for them to understand the decision. Just informing that about the decision, and not allowing them to be a part of it, may cause great disturbance. If your children are teenagers they might become rebellious and sabotage your move.
You have to see the things from their perspective – their entire world is being thrown off balance and no one even asked them about their opinions. Researchers show that a lot of moving throughout the childhood prevents children from building strong friendships, which is necessary for their proper development. Although you might not be able to avoid that, there are many things you can do to improve your new position.
2. Create a moving schedule that includes the whole family
Moving is difficult and complex. You might feel like it’s best you do everything yourself. Wrong! You need to include everyone. All members of your family are going to have to process certain emotions, and not all of them will be feeling the same. The best way to work through it is to participate in the move itself. Coordinate with your family and decide together. Where are you going to move to? Which house are you going to pick? Should you hire a moving company? What is the best way to pack fragile items? Make this a fun, family adventure instead of a tantrum filled week. Try to include activities and research, and time will pass much better. If you are afraid that you might miss something, check out this useful article.
3. Take care of the emotional needs of your children
When it comes to moving, there are more tasks than you can count. It’s not easy dealing with all of them and you might feel overwhelmed and lost. In addition to all of that, you need to take care of your kids, in an emotional way. If they are not toddlers, they are going to know what is happening, and most likely they are going to be pissed. You are the person taking them away from their bedroom, basketball team, girlfriend. You might be the person taking them to a different continent. They are going to be mad, angry, sad, vindictive, they might try to sabotage everything or throw a temper tantrum. One thing that you have to understand is that they are allowed to. Moving with children also means dealing with all of that in the healthiest way possible.
Don’t try to punish them, or ground them. Understand what they are going through and try to be there for them. Rationalize the decision, but let them be emotional about it. You know that you are doing what’s best for them and eventually, they will understand it too. It might take some time and a lot of patience, but they will get there
4. When it comes to moving with children, don’t be afraid to seek professional help
Sometimes moving is associated with another traumatic event, such as divorce or death. Both of these things combined can cause a very big emotional damage for children. In these situations, perhaps it’s best to seek help and advice. Although you know your kids better than anyone, perhaps you might be in over your head. Someone with more experience and with professional knowledge might be more suitable to assist you in this turbulent times. You can also look for help in your friends and family. Look for someone your kids love and respect, and will listen to. Moving with children is that much harder if you don’t know how to reach them. It is important not to blame yourself, and to do everything you can to make the transition easier.
Why is it important to take care of your kids during a relocation? Because these type of events can seriously damage the development of children, and should not be taken lightly. Moving with children means uprooting them and that is never easy. Of course, there are ways to make this transition easier. Just like anything else related to moving they require patience and planning. It is necessary to understand what your children are going through and how you can help them in any way possible. You also need to stay focused on the move itself and don’t let the plan fall through because of distractions. In order to master all of this, look for help in any place you can find. We suggest you this article that contains a lot of useful tips on how to deal with the emotional aspects of moving for children.