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Moving house can be an emotional experience for adults, so imagine how much more unsettling it can be for children who don't really understand what's going on.
There are many things to consider when relocating, none more important than the impact of moving on your children.
REMAIN POSITIVE:
The secret is to remain positive.
Most often the reason for moving is a happy one, such as a new home or job promotion, which generates excitement and compensates for the inconvenience of packing up and relocating.
However if the move is associated with an unhappy event it can be hard to keep a positive attitude in front of the children.
Children feed off the emotions of their parents.
Your Moving Checklist
A moving checklist can keep you from forgetting important things, like turning on the utilities in your new home. You ll want to make your own list of things to be done, but you can start with the suggestions below.
Moving checklist - One Month Before
- Make reservations with moving company.
- Notify friends and family and give them your new address.
- Submit change of address forms to post office.
- Get documents for school transfers, if you have children.
- Have a garage sale or otherwise lighten the load.
One Or Two Weeks Before
- Arrange utility shut-offs and new connection ..
If you are not happy the chances are they are not happy either and will need more reassurance and attention to ensure the move is a positive experience for all of you.
TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN:
Explain to your children what's happening, why you are moving, where you are moving to and what they can do to help so that they feel a part of what's happening.
Listen to them.
Let them express how they are feeling, and empathise with them, even if some of their feelings are negative.
It is only natural they will be concerned, leaving familiar surroundings and friends.
Leaving the known for the unknown can be pretty scary.
Most importantly be honest with your children.
Reassure them that they are an important part of the family, and can help make the move a positive family experience.
TEARS AND TANTRUMS:
Children express their anxiety in a number of ways.
Tears and tantrums are the most common. If your children have moved before, and the experience was not a happy one, they may show signs of depression, withdrawn behaviour, or signs of aggression such as tantrums.
Once again, the answer is lots of reassurance and a positive attitude.
Jason Hill is the owner of Moving Again, a successfull Interstate Removal Company in AustraliaJasonMoving Home with your children
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