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Moving house can be an emotional experience for adults, so imagine how much more unsettling it can be for kids who don't really understand what's going on. There are many things to consider when relocating, none more important than the impact of moving on your children. HYPERTRANS trust that this Web-Site will help make your move a positive experience for the whole family. REMAIN
POSITIVE: The secret is to remain positive. Most often the reason for moving is a happy one, such as a new home or job promotion which generates excitement and compensates for the inconvenience of packing up and relocating. However if the move is associated with an unhappy event it can be hard to keep a positive attitude in front of the children. Kids feed of the emotions of their parents. If you are not happy the chances are they are not happy either and will need more reassurance and attention to ensure the move is a positive experience for all of you. TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN: Explain to your kids what's happening, why you are moving, where you are moving to and what they can do to help so that they feel a part of whats happening. Listen to them. Let them express how they are feeling, and empathise with them, even if some of their feelings are negative. It is only natural they will be concerned, leaving familiar surroundings and friends. Leaving the known for the unknown can be pretty scary. Most importantly be honest with your children. Reassure them that they are an important part of the family, and can help make the move a positive family experience. TEARS AND TANTRUMS: Children express their anxiety in a number of ways. Tears and tantrums are the most common. If your children have moved before, and the experience was not a happy one, they may show signs of depression, withdrawn behaviour, or signs of aggression such as tantrums.
Once again, the answer is lots of reassurance and a positive attitude. |
THE AGE
DIFFERENCE: Different aged kids react differently to news of an impending move: Infants: Very young children will be affected least, providing their normal routine is not disrupted greatly. Pre-Schoolers: Children of this age worry about being left behind. Especially when they see their favourite toys being packed and put away, and their parents attention being diverted from them and their normal home routine. Instead of getting them out of the way by sending them off to Nannas or a baby-sitter, let them stay with you and help you pack up their possessions and toys. Never throw out any of these prior to the move, regardless of their condition as having familiar things around is of great comfort to young children.
Primary School Children: Children of this age look forwarding to discovering the world around them. Therefore relocating is generally exciting to them, with lots of new experiences and making new friends generally comes easily to children in this age group. Their main concern is fitting in to their new school. Teenagers: Deep vital friendships are very important to older children. By this age social activities and friends have overshadowed the family as sources of identity. Talk to them openly and frankly about the move. If they're interested in sports or activities, help them find clubs and organisations in the new area. If practical, encourage them to invite friends to visit or stay overnight at your new address. Forget about whether your home is not as presentable as you would like - your children's happiness is priority at this stage.
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