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Report 13

Moving - 27 essential ways to make it easier on the kids

“Moving from one house to another is seldom easy and fun for adults and it can be especially troubling for the children.” But if parents deal with their children's concerns and needs thoughtfully, much of that distress and discomfort can be avoided.

1. Children see moves differently than their parent's do

Children benefit much less from the change in their comfortable routines, or so it seems at the time. Most often, a change in houses or communities heralds an important step forward for the adult members of the family. The family moves because Daddy or Mommy has a great new job or a promotion in reward for years of hard work. They move because financial success has allowed the purchase of a bigger and nicer house in a more costly neighbourhood. They move because they can finally afford private bedrooms for each child and perhaps a pool in the back yard. Since the 1990's, mobile and hard striving people typically live in a house for about four years and then move on as their careers or fortunes allow. That short time span is only a small percentage of the life-to-date for a 30 or 40 year old, but the same four years is half the life-time of an 8 year old, and it includes almost all the years he or she can remember. To a parent, this house may be only the place they have lived recently. They think of it as a way station on the road of life. To kids, however, it may be the only home they have ever really known. This is their house, the place they feel safe and comfortable and thoroughly at home. A house is much more than a roof and walls to a child. It is the center of his or her world. A move threatens to take that sphere away and leave something totally strange in its place. The familiar friends, schools, shops and theatres, the streets, trees and parks - all will no longer exist for them. Everything soon will be strange, and they will live in someone else's world. The impact of a move on a typical child starts about the time he or she first hears that Daddy has accepted a promotion, and often continues for about a year, until the new house becomes home, and memories of the previous place fade.

2. Consider the child’s age group

It's not usually necessary to announce this big change to children immediately, although they must hear about it from you before someone else breaks the news. Most teenagers see themselves as adult members of the family, and will probably feel they have been left out if they don't hear everything from the first day. But it is probably not a good idea to tell toddlers and preschoolers until they have to know. There is no point in making them worry far in advance. Be sure to announce the move in a totally positive way. You might say how proud you are that Daddy's company has chosen him out of many other employees to manage a new office in Waterloo. Talk about what a beautiful city Kitchener is, how good the schools are and how nice the people are. Tell truthful but very positive stories about how nice the new house will be.

3. Ask them what the favourite things are

In their lives now, and then try to make them happen in the new home.

4. If the new home is too far away

To allow a visit by the entire family after it has been selected, show the children pictures of it from every angle.

5. Videotape it, if you can

Emphasize the positive views and be sure to include pictures of each child's new room.

6. Try to name the house

With some romantic description like "Forest Hills" for the big trees and the sloping lawn. Sugar coating will help, but since children can quickly see the negative sides of most situations, every parent must plan to deal with their children's worries, fears and sorrows.

7. The children will lose friends they may have known all their lives

They will leave behind their sports teams, their clubs and they're dancing teachers. They will have to start over in a new place, making friends, becoming accepted and fitting into different groups.

8. Younger children

Need protection from fear of the unknown

9. Listen carefully to their concerns

And respond quickly to allay their apprehensions. It would be normal, for instance, for a young child to worry that his or her toy box and shelf of stuffed animals might be left behind. Find those anxieties and correct them.

10. Probably the best tactic

Is to get the children actively involved in the whole process.

11. Don't just promise

To let them decorate their own rooms, for example. Take them to the paint store and let them bring home color swatches. Shop for bed spreads and towels and carpets.

12. They must leave old friends behind

So find ways to make that parting almost pleasant.

13. Plan a going-away party

And let them invite their own guests. Take pictures of everyone and make a photo album.

14. If a child is old enough

Send him or her out with a camera and the assignment to photograph the views they will want to remember.

15. Some relationships will be extremely difficult to break

And these will demand careful, thoughtful, personalized planning by both parents. How, for instance, do you move a 17-year-old 1,000 miles from her steady boyfriend?

16. Expect that your children

May be even more distressed after the move than they were before it.

17.

The

new

house

will

not

be

beautiful

the

night

after

the

moving

van

leaves,

or

for months after

The furniture won't fit the rooms. The curtains won't be up, and every spot on the floor will be covered with half- unpacked cartons.

18. The children won't know anyone at school

And, if you move during the summer, they may have little opportunity to meet anyone their age. You may be faced with many more problems in your new community than they will, but remember that you can handle them more easily than they can. They will need your help, and you should plan to give them the support they need.

19. After the move

Set up a system to keep in touch with the people back home who matter the most to them.

20. Buy a stack of picture postcards or send digital pictures

That show positive views of your new community, and encourage them to write good news messages to the friends and relatives they left behind.

21. To make new friends

Make sure the children don't vegetate in front of the television or computer.

22. Get them outside

Where neighbours pass by.

23. Have them pass out fliers

To do baby-sitting or car washing.

24. Encourage them to participate

In as many school activities as they can handle.

25. Get them on

Sports teams and into clubs.

26. If they - and you - aren't making new friends fast enough

Throw a housewarming party for yourselves and invite all the adults and children on the block.

27. If serious emotional or attitudinal problems arise

Help is usually available and probably should be sought. Ask a teacher for help. Consider professional counselling. Don't let a serious problem slide. Remember that the newness will wear off. New friends will become old friends and best friends. This new house may become the family homestead your grandchildren will visit every holiday season. There will be discomforts, but in the long run, everything will work out fine.

Knowledge + Experience + Teamwork = Results

Call Jim or Cathy at 519-886-6612 or e-mail
© Lorem ipsum dolor sit Nulla in mollit pariatur in, est ut dolor eu eiusmod lorem

Report 13

Moving

-

27

essential

ways

to

make

it

easier

on

the kids

“Moving from one house to another is seldom easy and fun for adults and it can be especially troubling for the children.” But if parents deal with their children's concerns and needs thoughtfully, much of that distress and discomfort can be avoided.

1.

Children

see

moves

differently

than

their

parent's do

Children benefit much less from the change in their comfortable routines, or so it seems at the time. Most often, a change in houses or communities heralds an important step forward for the adult members of the family. The family moves because Daddy or Mommy has a great new job or a promotion in reward for years of hard work. They move because financial success has allowed the purchase of a bigger and nicer house in a more costly neighbourhood. They move because they can finally afford private bedrooms for each child and perhaps a pool in the back yard. Since the 1990's, mobile and hard striving people typically live in a house for about four years and then move on as their careers or fortunes allow. That short time span is only a small percentage of the life-to-date for a 30 or 40 year old, but the same four years is half the life-time of an 8 year old, and it includes almost all the years he or she can remember. To a parent, this house may be only the place they have lived recently. They think of it as a way station on the road of life. To kids, however, it may be the only home they have ever really known. This is their house, the place they feel safe and comfortable and thoroughly at home. A house is much more than a roof and walls to a child. It is the center of his or her world. A move threatens to take that sphere away and leave something totally strange in its place. The familiar friends, schools, shops and theatres, the streets, trees and parks - all will no longer exist for them. Everything soon will be strange, and they will live in someone else's world. The impact of a move on a typical child starts about the time he or she first hears that Daddy has accepted a promotion, and often continues for about a year, until the new house becomes home, and memories of the previous place fade.

2. Consider the child’s age group

It's not usually necessary to announce this big change to children immediately, although they must hear about it from you before someone else breaks the news. Most teenagers see themselves as adult members of the family, and will probably feel they have been left out if they don't hear everything from the first day. But it is probably not a good idea to tell toddlers and preschoolers until they have to know. There is no point in making them worry far in advance. Be sure to announce the move in a totally positive way. You might say how proud you are that Daddy's company has chosen him out of many other employees to manage a new office in Waterloo. Talk about what a beautiful city Kitchener is, how good the schools are and how nice the people are. Tell truthful but very positive stories about how nice the new house will be.

3. Ask them what the favourite things are

In their lives now, and then try to make them happen in the new home.

4. If the new home is too far away

To allow a visit by the entire family after it has been selected, show the children pictures of it from every angle.

5. Videotape it, if you can

Emphasize the positive views and be sure to include pictures of each child's new room.

6. Try to name the house

With some romantic description like "Forest Hills" for the big trees and the sloping lawn. Sugar coating will help, but since children can quickly see the negative sides of most situations, every parent must plan to deal with their children's worries, fears and sorrows.

7.

The

children

will

lose

friends

they

may

have

known all their lives

They will leave behind their sports teams, their clubs and they're dancing teachers. They will have to start over in a new place, making friends, becoming accepted and fitting into different groups.

8. Younger children

Need protection from fear of the unknown

9. Listen carefully to their concerns

And respond quickly to allay their apprehensions. It would be normal, for instance, for a young child to worry that his or her toy box and shelf of stuffed animals might be left behind. Find those anxieties and correct them.

10. Probably the best tactic

Is to get the children actively involved in the whole process.

11. Don't just promise

To let them decorate their own rooms, for example. Take them to the paint store and let them bring home color swatches. Shop for bed spreads and towels and carpets.

12. They must leave old friends behind

So find ways to make that parting almost pleasant.

13. Plan a going-away party

And let them invite their own guests. Take pictures of everyone and make a photo album.

14. If a child is old enough

Send him or her out with a camera and the assignment to photograph the views they will want to remember.

15.

Some

relationships

will

be

extremely

difficult

to break

And these will demand careful, thoughtful, personalized planning by both parents. How, for instance, do you move a 17-year-old 1,000 miles from her steady boyfriend?

16. Expect that your children

May be even more distressed after the move than they were before it.

17.

The

new

house

will

not

be

beautiful

the

night

after the moving van leaves, or for months after

The furniture won't fit the rooms. The curtains won't be up, and every spot on the floor will be covered with half-unpacked cartons.

18. The children won't know anyone at school

And, if you move during the summer, they may have little opportunity to meet anyone their age. You may be faced with many more problems in your new community than they will, but remember that you can handle them more easily than they can. They will need your help, and you should plan to give them the support they need.

19. After the move

Set up a system to keep in touch with the people back home who matter the most to them.

20.

Buy

a

stack

of

picture

postcards

or

send

digital

pictures

That show positive views of your new community, and encourage them to write good news messages to the friends and relatives they left behind.

21. To make new friends

Make sure the children don't vegetate in front of the television or computer.

22. Get them outside

Where neighbours pass by.

23. Have them pass out fliers

To do baby-sitting or car washing.

24. Encourage them to participate

In as many school activities as they can handle.

25. Get them on

Sports teams and into clubs.

26.

If

they

-

and

you

-

aren't

making

new

friends

fast enough

Throw a housewarming party for yourselves and invite all the adults and children on the block.

27.

If

serious

emotional

or

attitudinal

problems

arise

Help is usually available and probably should be sought. Ask a teacher for help. Consider professional counselling. Don't let a serious problem slide. Remember that the newness will wear off. New friends will become old friends and best friends. This new house may become the family homestead your grandchildren will visit every holiday season. There will be discomforts, but in the long run, everything will work out fine.

Knowledge + Experience + Teamwork = Results

Call Jim or Cathy at 519-886-6612 or e-mail