Children and moving, our advice

Children and moving: preparation

Your child may be upset or unhappy: moving house is a big deal, and that can be worrying. That’s why it’s essential to prepare your child for the move:

• Talk about it: you need to keep your child informed as early as possible, as soon as your plans become concrete, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
• Explain: it’s important to explain to your child why you’re moving, so that you can share your feelings. Then, invite him to express himself by asking questions to understand what’s worrying him. The primary objective is to reassure him.
• Encourage him: involving him in tasks such as boxing up his toys will help him feel more at ease with the situation.
• Maintain your habits: to avoid any upheaval, we recommend that you keep all your habits until the big day, as these are familiar, comforting landmarks that will help him through this transition (especially mealtimes, your playtimes, bedtimes…).

The most important thing is communication, so show him that this change will be beneficial for the whole family, and talk to him in a positive way about his new home.

Getting organized on D-day

There are a number of options to help you get organized on the big day: first of all, you can choose to have your child looked after, especially if he or she is still a baby, as you won’t be much available on the day. What’s more, being present on the big day can be impressive, as your child becomes aware of what’s going on, and realizes that the page of his or her “old life” is being turned. When your child arrives in your new home, make sure his or her room is ready.

Secondly, if your child is old enough to contribute to the move and you don’t want him/her to stay with you, involve him/her in the move, especially in his/her new room, so that he/she can make it his/her own.

After the move

Once the move is complete, your child will need to adapt to his new environment. To do this, you’ll need to be patient, listen carefully and help him put his emotions into words. Next, we advise you to maintain your routines, as you did before the move, so as to keep your child’s bearings. You can also visit your new city with your child to help him acclimatize to this change, as well as enrolling him in activities or inviting his new friends to your home. Don’t forget that your role as a parent is essential at this time, to help your child make the most of the move.

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