4 Ways to Prepare Your Kids for a Move to a Big City

After years of living in the same home in a familiar neighborhood, you have made the big decision to move to a big city. Whether the move will take you 200 or 2,000 miles away from your current life, it will be a big change for you and your kids.

To help make relocating to your new life in a big city easier for your kiddos, consider the following tips:

Allow Them to Grieve

While some kids adapt pretty quickly to the idea of a new house, school, friends and neighborhood ice cream shop, others are emotionally shaken up about the move. If your children are crying and expressing how sad they are about the move, comfort and reassure them that what they are feeling is normal and that you will help them get through it.

Ask your children what is worrying or making them the most sad, and then work with them to find ways to make it better. For example, your daughter may express that she will really miss her BFF down the street more than anything. Come up with ways that they can stay in touch through emails, letters, video chat apps and occasional visits.

While the moving process varies from kid to kid, if they are grieving the loss of their old home, they may need at least six months to acclimate to the new one. So, you might see more tears and tantrums for awhile.

 

Check out Homes and Apartments Online

Even though you and your spouse will have the final say on your new home — after all, you’ll be paying the mortgage — you should involve your kids in the house hunting process. This helps them feel more excited about the upcoming move. If you are planning to move to New York City, for example, check out an apartment listing website and spend some time shopping for your new apartment. You can ask your kids what they are hoping for in the new place and try to fulfill at least a few of those wishes.

Let Them Help Pack

Seeing all of their favorite toys and books getting packed into generic brown boxes can be scary for kids. They may wonder if their precious belongings will be lost or broken along the way, and it may be hard for them to be without their prized possessions while you move.

If you let your kids get in on the packing, especially their own stuff, you can help alleviate these fears. Give them one or two boxes that they can decorate with stickers and pens and mark with their names. Have them fill the boxes with their favorite things and seal them. If you have room in your car, bring these boxes with you, or at the very least, let your child help bring the boxes into a specific spot on the moving van.

Stick With Routines

Once you get into your new home, make sure you adhere to your old and familiar routines as much as you can. Let your kids know they can count on having takeout pizza every Friday and watch a movie together as a family every Sunday. Even if you keep just a few of your old traditions, your kids will more easily navigate all of the “new.” The same goes for bedtimes, reading at night and other things that can easily be set aside during the craziness of a move. These routines will help your kids feel safe and grounded.