Moving can be difficult for your children, no matter what their age, so it’s important to keep their feelings and needs in mind during the move. Preschool children between the ages of two and four have their own set of special needs that differ from the needs of older children. In order to make the move go smoothly for everyone, make sure you consider their special needs during the move.
Mommy, don’t leave me behind. For children in this age group their main concern is being left behind. It can be scary for them to see Mommy and Daddy pack up the house. They may be afraid that you will forget to bring them with you. To alleviate the fears, there are a few simple things you can do.
Involve your kids in the moving process. When you go out house hunting bring your children with you. Allow them to be part of the process. Let them walk around the house with you and have them pick out the bedroom they would have if you bought that house. This will help them to feel comfortable with the process and to feel like they’re a part of the move.
Talk to them. If you can’t take your children with you, let them know exactly where you’re going and when you will be back. If you’re moving to a different city, state or country bring some unique back for children from that place. Kids love getting toys with the name of the city on it, or a T shirt. They can show it to their friends and start to get comfortable with the idea of moving away.
Ask them about their feelings. Allow your kids to express their feelings about the move. Talk with them about all the exciting things that will happen. Tell them about the interesting places around town that they’ll be able to see and all the new and exciting things they’ll be able to do. When you arrive in the new city, take them to the places you talked about. Focus on the positive aspects of the move, but make sure you also spend time talking about their worries and fears. Just being able to express themselves will help ease the transition.
Give your kids a job to do. Have them pack their own toys and clothes into a box. If they can write, let them write their name on each of their boxes. If they’re too young to write, they can color code each of their boxes with their favorite colors and stickers. This way they’ll feel like they’re helping and that they’re a part of everything that’s going on.
Road trips can be boring. If you’re moving across the country or anywhere that you’ll have to spend a significant amount of time in the car, it’s important to realize that children of this age get very antsy. They don’t like to sit still for long periods of time and will get bored very quickly. In order to alleviate some of their boredom and make the trip more enjoyable for everyone, bring some games along. Children love coloring or doing puzzles in the car. Play a game of “I Spy,” or “Grandma’s going on a picnic.” Make sure you have plenty of things for them to do since any one activity isn’t likely to hold their attention for very long.
Take frequent breaks. Again, if you’re driving a long ways, make sure you stop frequently, at least every hour. Give your children a couple of minutes to get out of the car, stretch their legs and walk around. This is also a good time to let them go to the bathroom or get a snack.
Moving can be a stressful time for everyone, but that is especially true for young children who don’t quite understand what is going on. Doing a few simple things will turn something potentially difficult into a fun and easy time of transition and change.
Lorne MacInnes is a managing partner of Ferguson Moving & Storage (http://www.fergusonmoving.com), one of the oldest Vancouver moving companies, and an industry expert in the moving and relocation sector in North America.
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