Guidelines on How to Help your Kids Adjust to a New House and Utilizing Movers to your Advantage

June 11th, 2009 | jones | General

One of the hardest things to do with kids is relocate.Moving with small children is always a challenge.Children do not like to change their surroundings, especially if they have been here a while. Deciding what will, or will not, be moved is a very long process. You will want to try to rent a truck,finding the right moving trucks can be difficult and time consuming;decide if you will use movers or do everything yourself, it is hard for you to tell them about your breakables. Make sure to mark your breakables clearly. With a red permanent marker if you have one.

The biggest hazard is the children being around when the heavy furniture is moved around. Make sure children are kept far away from things as they are moved. It is to easy for a heavy desk or wardrobe to land a small foot, which can be painful; in addition, many movers are not very careful with the things they move, making drops ever more likely. Hire a babysitter, if possible, to ensure the kids will not be around the heavy things being moved. You can let them play outside, or go to a friend’s house so they will not be close to the objects getting moved around. By letting the children stay with a friend, you know they are safe from the moving and they can say final farewells.

Moving is very stressful for kids. They are very used to being in a certain home and living near certain objects; a change in location can be disorienting and disconcerting. When they look out their windows, instead of seeing a familiar street, they will see an unfamiliar scene. The best way to handle this hazard is by giving children a tour of their new neighborhood, showing them the sidewalks, yards, houses, and trees that will be their new home. By letting your kids see the new neighborhood will help them accept the move a little easier.

Along with the new environment comes new people; while children may still see their old friends, they will probably be in a new school district and have new young neighbors. During the first few months, children may be upset and even angry about having” lost” their friends. This is a natural reaction and parents should allow it to run its course- but they should also strive to introduce the children to as many new kids as possible. The quicker your kids start making new friends the easier it will be for them to adjust.

Moving can be wonderful, joyous experience- like taking a vacation or exploring a new place. So, to make the move as easy and hazard-free as possible, make sure that the children are as comfortable as possible in their new surroundings- and make the new surroundings seem like home.