How To Help Your Child Settle In After A Big Move

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A child can become extremely unsettled and anxious after a big move, and as a parent, you’ll want to do what you can to make them more comfortable and at-ease with the move. There may have been a few tears as they said goodbye to their friends, or when you drove away from the old house, but nothing compares to the uncertainty that accompanies being a new and unfamiliar place for the first time. They may be unhappy that you’re moving and may be retreating into a shell rather than exploring their new home. However, there are a few things you can do to help your child feel settled again, and start to see the positives of moving. Here are a few simple tips that could turn your child’s frown excitedly upside down.

Unpack Your Child’s Room First

As soon as Shiply, or the moving company you’ve chosen, unload your boxes, make it a priority to focus on unpacking and setting up your child’s room. In a new house, they may feel extremely out of place and in the way if they don’t have a task other than watching you unpack the kitchen utensils and glasses. Unpacking their room first will not only give them somewhere they can retreat to for a while, but will also allow them to have all of their familiar toys and belongings around them. You can even leave them to pick a new paint color or carpet color for their new room and choose how they would like their room arranged.

Routine Is Essential

It is important to try and keep your routine as similar as possible to the one you had before you moved. If Sunday is always a family day, or you have a day that the family goes for a walk to the park, it is important to make a point of setting time aside from unpacking to do the routine activity. A lot of changes happening quickly can be extremely overwhelming for a child and sticking to a familiar routine will help avoid unwanted meltdowns.

Let Them Join A Local Club

It can be difficult for your child to be away from their old friends while still settling into their new home. Letting them pick a local club of their choice to go to will not only allow them to pick up new skills and socialize but will help them to make new friends. Not, of course, to replace their old friends – but to show them that the new house and location aren’t all bad. Try to embrace the old and new friendships as much as possible – allow your child to invite their friends to see the new house, and encourage any sleepovers and dinners with their new friends.

Before you know it, your child would have settled right into their new setting and be thriving once again. It will just take a little time and nurture for them to feel completely comfortable, but a little redecorating of their room, a few park days and a lot of friends to stay will help them to feel “home” again.