Relocating when you have children can be difficult to say the least. Children often do not fully understand the reasons that may require a family to need to move to a new location. In addition, older children may resent having to leave their friends and school. They typically fear that they will not be accepted at the new school. To make this transition easier for your children, there are a few things you should do before you move.
Understand that the age of your child will determine the best method for dealing with the move. For very young children who have a poor sense of time, it is best to wait to tell them about the move until you start packing things into the truck to avoid the constant badgering that a small child will subject you to if you tell him too early. For early elementary school kids, it is best to tell them a week or two before the move. For older kids, tell them as early as possible to allow them plenty of time to adjust and say their good-byes.
An older child can be enlisted to help research the new area to determine where the best neighborhoods are. He can be involved in the house hunting process, too. He can also help find a moving company or map out the drive for the trip to the new home. Allowing the older child to be as involved as possible will help him feel like he is truly a part of the decision to relocate.
If possible, take your child to the new neighborhood so he can become familiar with the area. Spend some time driving around and finding the stores and parks and other points of interest. It is a good idea to make several trips to the new neighborhood before you move if it is a valid option. If traveling to the new home is not practical due to distance, use the Internet to explore the area. Google Earth and Google Street Views are good programs that will allow you to “visit” without actually going anywhere. Contact the local tourist office and request an information pack to be mailed to you, also.
Find out as much as you can about the new school. If you can visit the school ahead of time, your child will feel more comfortable on that first day. Find out who your child's teacher will be and where his class is located. Get a map of the school, inside and out, for your child to study. Find out what type of clothing the local kids where to school so your child can follow local customs. While this may seem superficial to you as a parent, being dressed like the majority of his peers will help alleviate the possibility of extreme embarrassment in the first few weeks of life in a new town.
Let your child decorate his new room however he wants. For an older child, tell him how much money he has available to spend on his new décor and then take him shopping. This trip can also be a valuable lesson in finances. For a younger child, find out what theme he wants and then present him with appropriate choices according to your budget.
Give your child an address book to write all his friends' addresses and phone numbers in. Give him the new address to give out to his friends, also. Consider having address labels printed for him to pass out, or envelopes with stamps and the address already written on them. He can then give those to his friends to encourage letter writing.
Ultimately, being sensitive to your child's concerns about the relocation is a big step to making the move easier for your child. Taking time to include your child and provide him with relative information about the new home will make your life and his far easier during this transition.
