Our economic state is causing a lot of changing and shifting these days. There are families who can no longer afford the huge houses they bough a few years ago, there are families who can now afford to buy a house now that prices have gone down and there are families who have to relocate because jobs are scarce. With many people in these given situations, it has cause a lot of buying and selling of real estate. This means that a good part of our country is in a transitional state. While this may be good to stimulate the economy, for many children it can be disruptive to their development. Whether it is a happy move to a bigger house that is closer to family or a sad move of leaving long time friends or family, relocating is tough on kids. And although you probably can’t sheild them from all of the sadness and confusion they may feel, you can take several steps to make the process a whole lot easier. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Does Age Make a Difference?

Generally speaking, the younger the child, the better they will cope with the transition of moving to a new home. Very young children and infants may be confused.

When to Move School Age Kids

You may think that moving your kids during long school breaks, such as summer vacation, is the best route to take. But in reality, this can actually make things harder for your kids. School is most likely the first place your kids can be assured of making friends. So moving while school is out places your child in unfamiliar and new surroundings at a time when their chances of making friends are low. When school resumes, your child may feel even more left out. When the first day back to school is filled with the excitement and hustle and bustle that occurs after a vacation, your child may feel like a stranger.

If you schedule your move during the school year, it allows your kids to go from one social setting to another. The teacher and the other kids will be more willing to show your child some extra special attention when they are the only new person. Just be sure that you help them adjust to their new curriculum so that there are no gaps in their education.

Before the Move

As you start making plans for your move, remember to focus on what your kids can look forward to. If you make your move feel like an adventure, your kids will also be very enthusiastic.
Right from the start, you might want to take them with you on house-hunting adventures.
After you’ve found the new home, be sure to take pictures of local places of interest.
Don’t forget to keep the channels of communication open. Encourage your kids to tell you about their uncertainties.
It is critical that your children have the enough time to say good-bye to the family members and friends they’re leaving behind.
You should encourage them to exchange contact information.

Getting the Kids Involved

It’s only natural that your kids will want to be involved with what’s going on. Here are ways to get your kids involved:

Ask them to help plan for and organize your garage sale. They could make colorful posters to stick up around the neighborhoAllowing them to choose a small number of toys or other items to keep with them on moving day.
Let them pack and label a few of their own boxes.
Make sure they have a special job to take care of on moving day. This will help them feel as if they’re making a valuable contribution.
Allowing them to decide how their new rooms should decorated and arranged.

Settling In

Understand that it is like that there may be a grieving period for children…it may last a few weeks, perhaps even a few months. Here are a few easy things you can do to make moving easier for your kids.

Investigate and explore your new neighborhood together. Look for new and exciting things.
Go to your new child’s school with them beforehand…walk around the new school together to help them find their bearings.
Accompany your kids on their route to school until they are comfortable traveling by themselves.
Seek out after-school activities where your children can make new friends with similar interests.
Spend time together as a family. Listen to each other’s stories so that you can be sure everyone is coping with the change.

Here are some things to watch out for: