Moving with children; a new environment

Are you planning and arranging everything, but are you also worried about the upcoming move? Then this is of course not very strange. Especially moving with children can be difficult and moving with children brings along the necessary headaches.

Relocation for children

As you have read before, moving with children brings a lot of stress. For young children in particular, leaving their old home and place of residence can be scary.

But if you prepare yourself and the children well, you can make the move a lot easier. With this practical guide and practical tips from Moving, we hope to be able to help you with this.

Tips moving with children

When you move, good preparation is necessary. Especially when children are involved. A move is not always a positive event and such a move can also make those involved sad. Especially small children who don't quite understand what's going on yet. And that is why good guidance is very important.

Tip 1. Put yourself in the children's shoes

Is there tension during a move? Then the family must prepare extra well. Moving to a new home as an adult can be difficult, so you can imagine how this might feel for a child.

Tip 2. Plan the move wisely

A moving checklist maken is eigenlijk altijd wel belangrijk, maar wanneer er kinderen in het spel zijn is dit nog belangrijker. Op deze manier kun je namelijk extra rekening houden met je kind.

Tip 3. Prepare your child at the right time

As soon as the moment has come that you as parents are 100% sure that your move will go ahead and that everything is arranged, only then is the right time to share this with the children. Do not do this too early, because if things change, this is very difficult for children.

Tip 4. Be positive about the move

You are moving and actually this is very nice! To make the move to the new home go smoothly, you might want to try making the move fun for the kids.

Tip 5. Read positive stories about moving together

For example, you can stick a striking sticker on the calendar so that your children can form an image. This way you can also count down all the days until the moving day. In such a visual way, children not only find things more fun, but the children will also understand a little more.

You can also plan a spontaneous action and, for example, you can drive through the new neighborhood with the children so that they can get used to the new environment a bit.

Tip 6. Choose the right school or nursery on time

This way you and your child can look at photos or videos of the new school and/or nursery. This can have a calming effect.

Tip 7. Let the children talk a lot

During a move, the child must be guided in a positive way and it is very important to give your child time to get used to the move. This gives a safe signal and the child does not feel like a burden. As a result, they will discuss their fears with you more quickly and they can talk about any underlying problem.

Tip 8. Packing together can help

Involve your children in the move as much as possible. Especially when it comes to packing. This way you can look together at what your child wants to move with you and what not.

Tip 9. Involve your child in his or her new room

You can also involve toddlers in the design of the new children's room. Do they want a new theme, bigger bed, different color? In this case, let your children express their opinion and look together at what is possible.

Tip 10. Let your child join in and help

Doing odd jobs and crafts together is of course always fun!

Tip 11. Organize a nice farewell party

A nice treat at school or a nice farewell party is always appreciated by children.

Tip 12. Don't show that you have moving stress

Giving your child enough time is of course very important, but it is also important for the parents to have a lot of patience and to show understanding. Do not let your children notice that you suffer from the stress or that their behavior causes you stress. Try to show this as little as possible because children feel your energy, which can make them even more rebellious and react more intensely.

Tip 13. Ensure safety during the move

Toddlers already understand a bit more and that is why it can be a major event for them. Not only do they end up in a new environment, but they also have to go to a new school where they have to make new friends.

That is why it is very important with toddlers that you explain everything calmly and step by step from the start. This also reduces psychological resistance.

Tip 14. See the move as an adventure

Toddlers are a bit older and you can actually involve them in everything from the start. In practice, problems with toddlers during moves are much less common.

For example, you can always take toddlers to the new neighbourhood. Then quickly explore the new neighborhood together. This way your child can get to know the environment and it will not all be experienced as a shock.

Moving with young children can be even more difficult

Mentally, very young children naturally lag somewhat behind older children. Research by the study of psychosocial sciences has therefore shown that relocations with much younger children must be approached differently.

Research has shown that you should not tell younger children too early about the move to the new house, new room, new neighborhood and new school. This is because very young children do not understand this at all.

Time is also an abstract concept for children that they have yet to get to know. Furthermore, they actually do not know at all what moving means and they have no idea what the new house, the new room and a new environment means.

Moving with babies

Babies are of course still very small and that is why they themselves will not notice much of a move. Babies are good at sensing mom and dad's emotions, so this is what you should pay extra attention to during the move. When you are stressed, your baby will feel this and become restless.

That is why when moving with a baby it is very important to keep your head as cool as possible so that your baby does not feel any stress.

Small children are usually present on moving day. On the one hand this is of course more difficult for you as a parent, but on the other hand it is nice for the child because it can see exactly what is happening.

After the move, it is important to give babies and toddlers a familiar feeling in the new house. That is why people often choose to furnish the new room exactly like the old nursery.

When you do this, small children will see the old and familiar environment in front of them and in this way they will hardly notice the move. It is also nice to put the most important things and favorite toys in their room.

At the same time, children who move have to deal with new things that they did not know before. So if you set up the room as before, their sleeping ritual will also remain almost the same and this whole process will therefore be a lot easier for every parent.

Their familiar environment and a new school

Moving to a new neighborhood, municipality or even country naturally also means a new school. In this case it is important as parents to look at a school together. This will give your child the feeling that he/she also has a say in the new school.

This is also very important if you have older children who, for example, go to secondary education. Always involve the children in decisions that affect them. Especially when it comes to a different school because this can cause some confusion for children of all ages.

Saying goodbye is never fun

Children naturally think very differently from adults and therefore they are less able to deal with their emotions in difficult situations. Their emotions are also stronger than adults and this can cause problems in more difficult circumstances.

Children can therefore suffer from physical complaints during such a move. For example, your child can get a headache or stomach ache. Toddlers can even start wetting the bed from all the stress.

Homesickness is not crazy at all

Homesickness is of course not crazy. It is something that even adults often experience. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that your child will not like the new house at all in the beginning. Especially when it comes to moving to another municipality or city.

Unfortunately, the move is something that will happen and no one can ignore it. The only thing you can do as a parent is to guide your child well and it is also important to show understanding for his / her homesickness. You may be able to give your child some extra attention by, for example, going back to the old neighborhood or old house together so that your child can see all the friends again.

Give your child enough time

If your child suffers from homesickness, you as a parent do not have to worry immediately. Children usually adapt over time. The new place will give them new friends and experiences that will quickly make them forget their old home. Over time, they have less difficulty with moving to another city.

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