How to Talk to Kids About Moving: Tips for Staying Positive During a Move

What happens when the family has to move, but the kids don’t want to? It happens more than you might think – parents are offered new job opportunities, relationships change, and buildings change ownership all of the time. Sometimes children welcome the opportunity to move to a new neighborhood and school, but other times don’t. Parents who can maintain a positive attitude throughout the process can help their children adjust to the move – but it’s hard to stay smiling when faced with surly offspring. Here are 5 ways to stay positive during a household move, from the experts – Shleppers full-service movers in NYC:

Embrace the move as a done deal

Your children may try to talk you out of the household move, using whatever pleas and strategies they can think of to make you call off the move. Don’t waste your time or energy getting caught up in these conversations; they can be frustrating and give your child false hope. Be very clear about the fact that the move is happening. Sharing essential information, such as the day everything has to be packed and the day the movers are coming, will help your kids accept the reality of the situation.

Talk about what you have to look forward to

Identify some of the neat aspects of your new neighborhood and talk to your kids about them. Maybe there’s a cool park to play in, or a pizza place with a great reputation. Having something to look forward to at your new place can make it easier for your kids to leave behind the old one.

Create a connections plan

Children, especially younger children, tend to be very absolute thinkers. They may assume that leaving a neighborhood behind means never being able to see the family and friends they have there ever again. However, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to the people you want to maintain contact with. Discuss age-appropriate options with your kids: for littles, parents can set up Skype or FaceTime calls; older children can use social media on their own with appropriate supervision.

Be real about your own emotions

Sometimes it’s not just the kids who have conflicting feelings about a move. When you need to move and aren’t entirely thrilled about it, it’s important to express those feelings honestly, appropriately, and to the right audience. Venting to a best friend or colleague can help you process your emotions in a way that doesn’t add to what the children are feeling. Honesty is always the best policy when parenting, but you can be strategic with it: if the kids ask you directly what you think about the move, it’s fine to say you’re not thrilled but are determined to make the best of it.

Visit their new school

Your kids are probably nervous about starting a new school and making new friends. If you can, plan to see the school in-person before their first day to ease some of their anxiety. Remind them of the exciting opportunity they have to meet new friends.

Plan a goodbye party

Before you and your kids move out of your old home for good, make time to throw a small goodbye party. Invite neighbors and friends and enjoy spending time together before you leave. During the party, have the kids talk about favorite memories they have of living in the house. This will help your kids gain a greater sense of closure.

Use Professional Movers

While you’re working on making moving more exciting for your kids, Shleppers will work on making moving easier for you! We know moving with kids is hard, so you can rely on us to help your transition go as smoothly as possible. Call the best moving service in New York City today at 800-847-4537 or fill out a free no-obligation quote here.