Moving to a new home can be stressful for your children. They are used to their neighbourhood, their school, and their home and can feel daunted at the prospect of all that changing. Some children may take a while to warm up to the idea of moving, while for others the excitement of moving to a new place may help to curb some of their anxiety. To help make the transition a smooth one, there are a few things you can do before and after the move. Here are 5 of our top tips to help kids settle into a new home:
Involve the kids in the move
If the children weren’t with you when you were house-hunting, you’ll want to make sure they see the home before you move in. This could mean taking them on a tour of the house and showing them which rooms will be theirs, where the light switches and bathrooms are, and how they find their way to your room in the middle of the night. This will help prepare them early on and and will allow them to better visualize the move.
Keep your regular routine as much as possible
Change is good but too much change all at once can be very overwhelming! You’ll want the kids’ routines to be disrupted as little as possible, which means trying to keep things running as they normally would. Keep mealtimes, bedtimes and any other regular routines consistent where you can.
Set up the kids’ rooms first
Obviously you’ll want to unpack the essentials first, which usually means kitchen and bathroom items. However, then you should set up the kids’ rooms to help them settle in as soon as possible. Involve them in this process by asking them where they want to place certain items, such as furniture, pictures or shelving. If you are planning to decorate before you move in, ask them what colour they would like their room painted and include them in the purchasing of any new items.
Have them pack their own ‘essential’ box
When packing, ask the kids to pack a small box of their most valued items which they can then carry themselves to the new home. That way, they can unpack their more precious items first, which should help them feel more at ease in the new home right away.
Explore the neighbourhood
Take a stroll around your new neighbourhood so your children can familiarize themselves with the area. If they’ll be catching a new bus to school, show them where the stop will be. If they’ll be walking, walk the route with them. Visit a local park, pizza parlour or ice cream shop to start the move with some happy memories!
For more useful home tips and tricks, make sure to follow Royal LePage Performance Realty on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. For help buying or selling a home in Ottawa this year, do not hesitate to give our experienced team a call!
