Settling Into Your New Neighborhood: How to Reduce Stress on the Family
Moving can be a stressful time, especially for families. A new home and community can take children some time to get used to, creating a whole lot of stress for both child and parent. When settling into a new neighborhood, it’s important to show children compassion and understanding, after all, childhood can be stressful enough without a big move. So how can you make the transition smooth for your little ones (and yourself)? It’s easy with these tips.
Prepare Before the Move
Starting a conversation with your children a month or so before the move can help give children time to adjust. When talking to kids about the changes ahead, be sure to let them know what things will stay the same, like what things will be coming with you and how you will be able to continue relationships with friends and family you may have to leave behind. This can help reassure kids that, although their lives are changing, many of the important things will still be around.
Also, as you let your kids know about your move it’s helpful to show them pictures of the new house or apartment, if you’ve found one, or let them be involved in the process of finding a new home. Use online tools like ForRent, to take virtual tours of apartments and houses with your kids to help them get excited about living in a new place. For instance, if you’re moving from the east coast to the west, you can look at houses or apartments for rent in San Diego without piling the whole family onto an airplane or car. Virtual tours are especially helpful for letting children be involved in long distance moves.
Get the Family Back to Their Regular Routine
Getting the whole family back into their regular routine as soon as possible after a move can help both kids and parents feel a sense of normalcy, making the transition between homes smoother. As soon as you are able, reinstate the children’s usual schedule, setting bedtime, playtime, and meal hours according to what your children are used to.
As a part of getting back to your normal routine, try unpacking and getting your new home in order as soon as you can. Starting with the kids’ rooms can be a great way to help kids feel at home faster and allow them to feel at ease knowing their favorite possessions made the move safe and sound. Not only does unpacking quickly help kids adjust to a new home, it can help parents feel less stressed about getting their lives back in order.
Make New Connections
Making connections with people in your new community can help you get an understanding of your new neighborhood and feel more at home. Local parents are a great resource to learn about family friendly activities and events in a new area. Join a group, like MOMS Club, to get to know parents in your new neighborhood and help your children make new friends. For more help meeting new people and finding local activities, try the MeetUp app. MeetUp makes it easy to find groups with common interests, volunteer events, and other family activities in your area, perfect for establishing new friendships, for both parents and kids. You could even look into the local Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts chapter to help your kids make friends and become involved in the community.
Maintain Relationships
One of the biggest issues for many kids when it comes to moving is losing close friends and not seeing family as often as they’re accustomed to. Fortunately, long distance friendships are easier to maintain than ever before thanks to email, unlimited cell phone minutes, and face-to-face chat. Letting children have a video chat over FaceTime or Skype with friends and family can help kids deal with missing loved ones and provide much comfort after a long distance move. Another fun way to help kids maintain ties while also getting to know their new neighborhood is to send letters to friends and family. You can gather pamphlets from the fun new places you and your children have explored, take pictures, or even press flowers to help your kids share their new surroundings with old friends or family.
Help Your Kids Get to Know Their New School and Neighborhood
One of the biggest hurdles and causes of anxiety for kids and moving revolves around going to a new school. Help your children feel less stressed about starting a new school by taking them to see their school before they start and, if possible, introduce them to their teacher.
While you’re exploring the new school, take kids out to see what else their new neighborhood has to offer. Consider buying a local map or use Google Maps and let the city take you where it will. Try a fun activity, like a scavenger hunt, or set a goal to find the best local park or ice cream shop. Use an app, like AroundMe, to find the nearest movie theater, restaurants, and stores to get acquainted with your new surroundings and treat your kids to a fun day in their new hometown.
Although moving can be scary for kids, and parents too, it can be an exciting time full of new and fun experiences. Keeping an upbeat attitude and taking steps to make your kids feel at home in their new environment can make an otherwise stressful time fun and exciting for kids and parents alike. Home is definitely where the heart is and with your care and attention, your children will come to call their new house home in no time.
About the Author: Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer from Southern California. She is passionate about exploring new ways technology can be used to make day-to-day tasks easier. Follow her on Twitter.
