Moving with children - The settling in for the first time afterwards

Children love their usual environment, they appreciate rituals and an even daily routine. The smaller they are, the more important it is for them to be able to trust their environment and their daily rhythm. A move can quickly lead to a big drama and be quite exhausting for children and parents. But the time afterwards is not easy for the little ones. You have to get used to a lot of new things and, most of the time, change your mind about things.

Involve the children, even if they are small. For example, let her pack moving boxes and take her child to the new apartment. Even if children appreciate the familiar, they love the adventure and the child's feelings about moving usually oscillate between excitement, fear and curiosity.

Children in mourning - the separation from the familiar environment

If children are a bit taller and already go to kindergarten or school, moving to a child can be a very sad event. When, at the same time, the familiar facility has to be changed, many children rebel and resist the parents' incomprehensible decision. Then only comfort and understanding help. Accept the anger and also the grief of the child, because it is thrown against his will in a new life situation. Understanding and encouragement are very important now.

Try to interest your child in the new environment or even to inspire it. Talk to him about the new city or even the new country and tell him what's great there. Maybe you explore the area in advance with the child, visit beautiful places in the new environment, a great playground, the bakery just around the corner, the swimming pool, to which you can walk. Outline the positive side of the move - a larger room, a playground around the corner, a lake with ducks nearby - just make it clear to your child that this step is inevitable.

The big day is here - today we move

Make sure your child is well cared for that day, because you will not have time for it. Very young children should spend the day with a familiar person as far away from the relocation stress as possible. The day is exciting enough and kids should help with the move only when they are big enough to take good care of themselves. However, one can agree with the caregiver on a date at which the child "comes to visit". As a result, it is not completely isolated from the exciting happenings. Maybe this can be during lunch break or just in between. Then the move is just standing still and the child can look around in peace. Another option is to let the child participate in the move and to have a person look after the child. Then it can experience the move, even help a little and is still well taken care of.

The first night in the new home

When all the furniture and boxes have arrived in the new apartment, it is usually time to go to bed. Now there is a picnic on the living room floor. Make the first night of camping holiday light and sleep with the child on mattresses in one of the empty rooms. The festive evening ritual especially should not be missed today, so that the child comes to rest after the exciting day.

Find a connection

Help your child find a connection in the new environment. Visit the neighbors, introduce yourself and invite families with children to welcome coffee. It is also helpful to register in the sports club or in one of the local youth groups. There, children quickly get to know new friends in joint ventures.

Arriving takes time

Help your child to get used to it. Take more time than usual for games, joint activities or just for extended fun. If children are very much affected by the move, it may well lead to sleep disorders, bedwetting or other problems. If these do not go by themselves after a while, you should get advice and help from the pediatrician or a psychological service.

A move is stress and stress for the children as well as for the parents. Spending more time together is more important for the time after that than setting up the apartment as quickly as possible. Give your child and yourself time to arrive.

Did I forget something? Can you think of any more points?
I´m looking forward to your experiences and additions.

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