People relocate for all kinds of reasons, like a new job or simply because there are better opportunities in other regions of the country. Adults understand these reasons, but that does not mean kids will understand them. The following are a few tips to help your kids understand a relocation, which should make the transition a little easier.
Be Understanding
The first thing you need to do is acknowledge what your child is going through. There are a lot of things that may be going through your child's mind. For one, he or she is leaving friends behind. The bond your child has made with his or her friends is real and needs to be nurtured. You want to do your best to tell your child that he or she can still talk to friends using social media and on smart devices. Make sure you address any other concern your child might have.
Family Wish List
The next thing you might want to consider is inviting your child or children to contribute to a new home wish. One reason children feel so powerless when moving is because they do not have any say. You want to try to give your child a little power at this time so that he or she feels better about the move. The purpose of the family wish list is to give your child a little power. Allow your child to share a few wishes, like a basement play base or a tree house.
Treasure Box
If you live the San Antonio area, you might hire a San Antonio moving company to deal with your move, but you do not have to leave everything to them. A child is attached to his or her room, which makes packing a little more personal. Sometimes the easiest thing you can do is give your child a treasure box so that he or she could pack his or her most precious belongings. Your child could decide to hand this treasure box to the moving professional him or herself though some children would rather keep it. Let your child decide what he or she wants to do with the treasure box.
Goodbye Party
One way to show your child that you truly value the relationships that he or she has formed in this home is to throw a goodbye party. You do not have to spend too much money on a goodbye party unless you want to. All you really want to do is invite your child's closest friends. Make sure that your child understands that this is a goodbye party because you do not want him or her to deny the fact that you guys are moving away from this home.
Memory Books Work
It might seem silly at first, but your child has connected to many aspects of your home and town. You want to highlight these feelings by helping your child create a memory book. What you can do is go around your house and town, and take pictures of meaningful areas. Ask your child to add footnotes to each photograph so that he or she could treasure them forever. This exercise is not only educational but also therapeutic as it helps him or her say goodbye. It might also help your child feel better in your new home because he or she can always return to this memory book, which might make him or her feel better while adjusting.
There is no doubt that moving is hard for kids. A move that is not handled correctly can dramatically affect children, so make sure you do not take this moment lightly as a parent. You want to be as supportive as possible so that your child sees that his or her needs are still important. These tips should help make things a little easier for your child.
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