Moving is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do during your adult life. In fact, one 2018 study found that about 60 percent of people say moving is more stressful than getting a divorce or going through a bad breakup.
And moving can be hard on more than just adults, too. It can also take a toll on kids, especially if they’re moving to a new city or even a new state. They worry about everything from moving away from family members to making new friends near their new home.
Getting kids excited about moving is the key to alleviating any anxiety they might feel about doing it. It’s also the key to making sure your kids behave and don’t cause you to suffer from any unnecessary stress while you’re making your move.
Kids And Moving
Here are seven simple ways to get your kids excited about moving.
Talk to Your Kids About Moving Ahead of Time
There are some parents who choose to wait until the last minute to tell their kids that they’re moving. This is not the right approach to take.
Ideally, you want to let your kids know at least a few weeks ahead of time about the move you’re going to make. That’ll give them plenty of time to process the fact that you’re going to be moving.
Sit your kids down and explain why your family is moving and how it’s going to benefit you.
You might choose to say something like:
- “We wanted to buy a bigger house so that we’ll all have plenty of room”
- “We found a house that is located near a great school for you where you’ll make lots of friends”
- “We came across a house with a huge backyard that will be so much fun to play in”
When you say any of these things, it’ll get your kids excited about moving. They’ll look forward to your move instead of being overwhelmed by it.
Show Them Photos Of Your New House
Don’t just tell your kids that you’re going to be moving. Show them where you’re going to live.
Load up your smartphone with tons of photos of the house you’re going to move into and let your kids see it for themselves. Point out where each of their rooms will be and highlight some of the key rooms throughout the house, like the kitchen, the basement, and the family room.
The photos should spark your kids’ imaginations and go a long way toward making them excited about moving.
Take A Tour Of Your New City
If the place you’re moving to isn’t too far from your current home, why not go and check it out for yourselves?
Spend a Saturday afternoon exploring your new city.
Look out for things like:
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Schools
- Malls
- Amusement parks
These are the kinds of things that will get kids excited about moving. Get out and walk around as much as you can to build up the anticipation for your move.
Have Your Kids Pack Up Their Own Rooms
To really make your move feel real for your kids, hand each of them their own moving box and show them how to start packing up their rooms.
You can obviously do most of the heavy lifting during the packing process, both figuratively and literally, but your kids can help out a little to get into the spirit. This will ensure that they’re not totally caught off guard when you begin packing up the rest of your home.
Read Books About Moving To Your Kids
Book publishers seem to know that there are many kids who struggle when it comes to moving. They’ve published dozens of books to help them through it.
If your kids are on the younger side and having a really tough time wrapping their heads around your upcoming move, buy a few of these books and read them at night.
Some good options include:
- Little Critter: We Are Moving by Mercer Mayer
- Moving Day! by Jess Stockham
- A New House by Jill Wenzel and Jan Westberg
- Henry And Mudge And Annie’s Good Move by Cynthia Rylant
- I Like Where I Am by Jessica Harper
These books will get kids almost as excited about moving as they are about reading.
Answer Any Moving Questions Your Kids Have
Kids tend to have a million and one questions when they find out their families are moving. Commit to answering as many of them as you can to put your kids’ minds at ease.
You might face questions like:
- “Why are we moving?”
- “When are we moving?”
- “Am I ever going to see my friends again?”
- “Can we come back and visit our old house?”
- “Will Santa Claus know where we moved?”
The more questions you can answer for your kids, the better. It’ll make them feel more comfortable with the idea of moving.
Get As Excited About Moving As You Can
Your kids are going to follow your lead when it’s time to move. If you look stressed out and grouchy while moving, they’re going to be the same way.
In the days leading up to your move, show excitement when you’re packing up your final boxes and getting them ready for your movers. Keep your excitement levels high on the day of your move, too, and be positive and encouraging when talking to your kids.
By taking this approach to moving, you’ll find that your kids will be more excited to move. They’ll also be on their best behavior and avoid stressing you out too much.
We Can Help You Get Excited About Moving
Getting your kids excited about moving is one way to make a move less stressful than it has to be.
Another way to do it is by bringing the right moving company on board. We can help families make moves anywhere within 100 miles of the Bay Area. We can also offer you the best rates in the business and keep your personal possessions safe when you trust us with them.
Contact us today to hire us to be your moving company.