Moving is one of the most stressful events in life, right up there with the death of a loved one and divorce. For children ages 2 to 6, it’s as if their entire world is being disrupted. The good news is that this age group is very resilient and adapts quickly. Here are five strategies that will help your little one embrace their new “world” with open arms.
1) It all begins with your attitude
When parents are stressed and upset, their parenting suffers. Your positive attitude goes a long way in transforming fear and anxiety into excitement. As the founder of Gold Parent Coaching says, “Your kids look to you for cues, so if you’re positive, they’ll have a sense that everything will be okay.”
2) Involve your child with the move.
Read books about moving with your child to help them understand the process. A winner for this age group is The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
When it’s time to start packing, ask your child to help you pack up her room. Not only will this help her feel included, but she’ll be comforted seeing that all her beloved treasures are going to your new house. Let her “label” her boxes and put them with the things to unpack first. Better yet, let her decorate her boxes with crayons, stickers, etc. Not only will this help your movers easily identify where these boxes go, but it will keep her busy so you can attend to one of the other 457 things on your moving checklist!
Have your child accompany you to look at new houses. Including them in this way builds excitement and greatly reduces the fear and anxiety of the unknown. If they can’t join you, take photos to share with them later. Once you’ve chosen the home, let your child visit before moving day and take a tour of the new neighborhood and anything in the area that they’d like. Ice cream, anyone?
Have a look here to read a first-hand experience from one of our teachers about moving with a family.
3) Make your child’s well-being your priority.
Take plenty of breaks from packing to spend time with your child. After the move, try to take some time off from work to help your child settle into his new home. Some other things to consider include:
- On moving day, set up his room first so he will be surrounded by familiar things. If you do this, he’ll have a sanctuary to go to if he feels overwhelmed.
- Stick to your old routines; if your bedtime routine has always been a story and a kiss before bed, continue this tradition in your new house.
- If your child expresses anxiety about leaving friends, come up with ways they can stay in touch. If possible, plan a trip back to the old hometown to visit.
4) Acknowledge your child’s feelings.
Instead of judging or downplaying what your child tells you, acknowledge what she’s saying. For example, if your child says she is scared to go to her new school, rather than telling her there’s nothing to be scared of or that she’s being silly, acknowledge her feelings and say something like, “I know you’re scared, but I’m going to come with you. We’ll meet your new teachers and your classmates together, and I’ll stay with you until you’re not scared anymore.” Help your child work through the feelings rather than downplay or deny them.
Click here to read another teacher’s story about moving to Thailand with a family.
5) Transition to the new school in steps
Sometimes a few extra steps can be the perfect recipe for helping your child transition more easily to their new school:
- Ask your child’s former teacher or caregiver to jot down some notes for the new teacher/caregiver.
- Make sure your child “says goodbye” to their old daycare or school. You might even want to bring special treats for your child to hand out on his last day.
- Visit the new daycare or school facilities with your child before the first day. Meet the new teacher and say hello to the children.
At times, you’ll feel like your sanity is being challenged. But by looking for ways to help your child feel more comfortable with the move, you might even help yourself. With the strategies above, you’ve got this. Pretty soon you’ll be moved and settled into your new life and everything will fall into place. Leaving the stress of moving a distant memory.
