There’s no
denying that moving house is an incredibly stressful time for all. However, it
can be even more confusing for children. It can be difficult for them to watch
their home being taken apart and their safe space being put into boxes.
Depending on their age too, they not fully understand what exactly is going on.
There are so
many things that can make a child feel stressed too. From witnessing anxious
parents to having strange removal workers in the house, children may struggle
with the fact that there is no room or space to play. Younger children may
require attention and also get under their parents’ feet whilst packing and
dealing with the move. Or teenagers could start to act out if they learn they
need to leave their school and friends behind.
All these
things can start to add up and really affect a family, putting pressure on your
move too. As experts in house removals, whether it’s local or overseas, we
explore tips on moving with children of different ages and the best time to
move if you have children.
When should you carry out a removal with
children?
When it
comes to planning the day to move, you may be apprehensive about doing it with
children and whether this will affect their school and home lives. There are a
few set times though that you can successfully carry out your removal without
having to worry about time constraints and commitments.
● School holidays
- as one of the most popular choices for family house moves, school holidays
mean you don’t have to worry about school term time and you can all settle into
your new home and spend time together before the school year starts, which
might be at a new school altogether.
● Bank holiday weekends
- these are also popular, with a day or two extra to prepare, move and
settle in. However, these can be more expensive, as is anything on a bank
holiday weekend.
● Saturdays
- if
you’re not moving to a huge abode and are staying local, why not consider a
Saturday to move with children? It’ll be quick with minimal disruption and you
still have the Sunday to unpack and settle a bit.
Problems that might occur with children when
moving house
It’s good to
know in advance what to be wary of and what patterns could start emerging.
Children may not be able to grasp situations the same as adults do, nor experience
stress and depression in the same way, but they will react in a way that they
can’t understand and this may provoke certain temporary traits. These could
include:
●Problems with sleep and messed up
sleep patterns
●Aggression and sudden, unprovoked
bouts of aggression
●Lethargy and having no motivation to
be as energetic as usual
●New odd habits e.g. thumb sucking or
clinginess
●Low concentration levels at home or
school
●Headaches or stomach aches
Tips for moving with children under five
Of all
children, moving with under fives might arguably be the easiest. Yes, they
might require more attention and be needier than other children, but they won’t
actually be aware of what’s going on, nor have much of a connection to their
first home either.
Instead,
they might be curious about the move and be excited by new things, new friends
and their first school for example. Children are impressionable at this stage
of life, so adapting to new things is easy.
You may need
to keep them entertained during any packing and moving stages. Consider
enlisting the help from grandparents or friends to babysit whilst you pack up,
for example. During the move, keep them entertained as they will be too young
to be able to help. Sit them with a film or two, their favourite toys, or take
a break to build a fort with the cardboard boxes, ensuring they still get some
family interaction.
Tips for moving with children over five
Between the
ages of 5 and 12, children are more emotionally developed and start to feel
connected to things such as friends, school, home and routine. So, you may need
to think of ways to soften the blow of moving to a new city or the countryside.
Here are a few things you can do with children to prepare for your move:
● Visit your new house
- if your new place is quite local or further afield but still
accessible, consider taking a trip to visit it with your child. Show them their
new room whilst you’re there and talk to them about the possibilities of
decorating it. Also, visit somewhere nice that your children will enjoy whilst
you’re in the area.
● Give them time
- help them prepare to say goodbye to their friends and, if applicable, family
too. Give them that time to say goodbye at school and at after-school clubs
too.
● Encourage them to help
- encourage them to get excited about their new place and let
them get involved in the process a little. For example, they could help pack up
their toys, prioritising which one can travel in the car and where their
favourites go in the box and ask them to help with sticky notes and labelling
too.
● Get back into a routine
- once you’ve moved, try and get back into a routine as soon
as possible. The first night or two could be special, with their favourite
foods and activities, but afterwards, get back into set meal times,
walks/drives to school and bedtimes too.
● Love and affection
- during this time, ensure that your child knows that, whatever happens,
they will always be safe, secure and loved. A lot of upheavals may mean
self-doubt encroaches, but give them plenty of hugs, love and affection to show
them that everything is ok.
Tips for moving with teenagers
We often
perceive teenagers as volatile, angsty and moody. This may have been true for a
few of us, but mostly, teenagers are children who want to be treated as adults.
They will be able to understand what moving house means, along with the fact
that they understand emotions and how they feel a lot more than a child. From
school stress and friendship pressures to the anxiety of home life, teenagers
may be anything from quiet and distant to aggressive and rebellious during a
stressful time such as moving house. Here are some tips when moving with
teenagers:
● Talk to them
-
teenagers like being treated or spoken to as adults, so sit them down and talk
them through the move. Help them understand why you’re moving, the benefits of
it and establish that everything will be ok. Similarly, listen to them talk too
including any concerns they have. Finally, let them know it’s ok for them to
feel nervous and anxious.
● Watch their mental health
- if you notice a sudden change in behaviour, whether
lethargic, aggressive or generally negative, it could mean that there are
underlying problems and things going on outside of the home including being
bullied, struggling to make friends or missing old friends. Mental health
issues such as anxiety and depression affect one in ten
children and young people, so be
sure to tackle it early through talking, positivity and professional help, if
needed.
● Give them space -
your teenage child may need time to themselves for a while. Consider they
might be angry with you still or don’t want you to see them struggling with
their new life. Give them some space to adjust, but let them know you’re always
there if there is a more significant problem.
● Avoid moving during the school year
- try and move between school years as otherwise this
could disrupt studies and you may see a drop in grades. This is especially
important if your child is coming up to their GCSEs and A Levels.
Tips for preparing children for an overseas
removal
Whether work
commitments take you to a land far and wide or you’re longing for a cultural
shift, many seek out a change of scene. Here are some tips for preparing for an
overseas move with children:
● Timing
-
consider your big move in relation to the right time in your child’s life and
the right time of your life too.
● Do your research
- it is important to do your research on things like weather patterns,
schools, family-friendly areas, local celebrations, religion and traditions, so
you’re prepared for life once you’ve moved.
● Include your child
- in all research and house hunting stages, include your child and they
will start to become accustomed to a brand new place a lot easier.
● Language
- if
you’re moving somewhere that doesn’t speak your language, start enrolling your
child onto lessons or consider homeschooling them yourself.
Rose Removals - a local, national and
international removals and storage company
At Rose
Removals, we provide a domestic and commercial removals service for those
moving locally, to a different city or abroad. As well as this we offer
convenient and reliable storage solutions and packing materials to help you in
your removal process. For an accurate and affordable moving quote or to find
out more, contact us today.
