Moving with Children

Moving home can often be a mixture of excitement and stress for adults; for children too their can be excitement, but also concerns about living in a new home and neighbourhood. For very young children, even a move within a village like Ruddington or a town like West Bridgford can feel like a huge distance; moves across Nottingham or to other counties can feel worlds away. All children are different, so whether they are full of excitement or apprehension can vary. The reason for the move may also vary and affect the process. For parents this adds another factor to consider and to plan.
Advance planning is the key to all aspects of a successful move, including preparing children. About half of all families, with dependent children, will move home at some point.

Communication

Where possible, let them see where they will be moving and let them have an opportunity to discuss what life will be like in the new home. Visit key venues of the new area, including parks. If you are not moving too far away you can show this with a walk or bike ride.
Letting children prepare their favourite toys for the move can help them process what is happening.

This could include:

* Helping their favourite teddy pack its own box of belongings.
*Depending on age, packing or help packing their own toys and belongs and clearly labelling for
easy access at the other end. If they are able, let them label their boxes.
*Write a wish list for the new home, especially the child’s/children’s room. This could include how
they would like it decorating, what items they want in the room (and anything they don’t want
because they have grown out of it).
*Help them create a room plan for their bedroom; where will the bed go, where is teddies new
space.
*Choose which quilt cover they want on the bed. Depending on their needs it could be something
familiar to help them settle, or a brand-new set they have chosen especially for the new home.
*If you have a garden or outside space, plant some seeds in a pot and grow ready to plant in your
new garden when you move.
*Add some surprises into their boxes, wrapped up, which they cannot open until they have moved
and start to unpack the boxes.

Childcare experts emphasise the importance of communicating with your child, in an age-appropriate way. Children can struggle when they feel what is happening around them is out of their control. If children understand what is happening and are able to feel involved, it will reduce uncertainty. This will enable them to cope with the process better.

Moving Day

It is important, for health and safety reasons, to ensure children are kept clear of the removal company cooleagues whilst they move boxes and heavy furniture. You may wish to ask relatives and friends to keep them entertained whilst the heavy stuff is being moved at either end. Keep children up-dated with what’s happening.

*Take a picture of Teddy, sitting in the removal van excited to go.
*Take a picture of Teddy at the new house.
*If it is a longer distance move and it simply isn’t possible to set up their bedroom on the first day,
borrow a popup tent and play camping in one of the rooms.

If you have any good tips for keeping children safe and active during the moving process – send them to Albany Removals email address and we’ll post them on our blog. Alternatively add to our Facebook page.