How to prepare your children for a long distance move

If you are about to move then you must be aware of how difficult it can get. This especially applies to long-distance moving. You have a ton of tasks to complete and your anxiety level must be getting higher by the day. But all of these tasks and anxiety multiply when you have kids. It’s definitely not easy to prepare your children for a long-distance move. The relocation was probably your choice and they need to agree, but they might not be thrilled about it. However, there are ways to make them feel prepared for the move. Also, you can do your best to help them settle after moving. Avoid all arguments and misunderstandings by just following some simple advice.

Keep your children updated on all important decisions you make

Your kids might absolutely love or hate the news that they are about to move. But what matters is that they do not feel left out and in the dark. Make sure they know that you are considering moving to a warmer climate well before you make your final decision. The more time you have to prepare your children for a long distance move, the better. It will help them feel included in the whole process. And it will help the entire family not to go through a dramatic moment of declaring the news of moving long distance.

It is easier with toddlers

Keep in mind that if your children are still babies or toddlers, you should have no problems dealing with their relocation. But the older your kids are, the more likely they’ll be to make moving long distance a big issue. So give them time to let the notion of moving away sink in.

Be ready to answer all their questions

Your children will probably have many questions about relocation. And you should be there to answer all of them. Help them understand why moving is a great idea and why you have chosen long distance relocation as the best option for your family. If necessary, schedule a sort of family meeting and tell your kids to prepare their questions. They will feel better if they have no fears and doubts about their move. Answer all of their questions and make sure they are clear about every step of the moving process. They might surprise you.

Children usually understand more than we give them credit for. You and your spouse should be there for them at all times. And if you are relocating as a single parent, then you must answer all of their questions by yourself.

Hiring a professional moving company will give you time to prepare your children for a long distance move

You don’t want to waste any time before the move. Especially not the time you can spend with your children. If you feel you need to focus more on their needs, hire long distance NYC movers to take care of all the packing and moving issues while you take care of your kids. It’s quite a sensible decision when you think about it. Professionals can take care of you every moving need and they offer an array of services:

• long distance moving
• packing services
• storage services
• art handling
• commercial moving

This means that by choosing experienced and reliable Williamsburg movers, you can relax and focus on how to prepare your children for a long distance move.

Let your kids be included while you are making packing and moving decision

If you want your children not to feel left out and confused, include them in your decision-making process. Have them decide what they want to take to their new home. See if there are things they will gladly leave behind. If necessary, find a moving company that offers storage services so you can store all your possessions that will not be taken on your long distance move. It’s not a bad idea to have each child pack up their bag of essentials to hold on to during your moving day (or days). Let them check if all of their possessions have been packed and ready. This way your children will feel included and excited about the move and you will feel less tension and anxiety.

How to prepare your children for a long distance move if they are teenagers or school children?

This might be the trickiest part of your relocation. If you have schoolchildren then they will most likely protest at the very notion of moving anywhere. Let alone hundreds or thousands of miles away. So you need to be extra patient here. Try to explain that you’ve chosen a good school for them. Tell them that this is an important step for their future. Help them understand that moving is difficult, but they’ll have the chance to meet new friends and enjoy just as they have in your current city.

Prom is important

If necessary, promise them that they will be able to attend important school events. Homecoming and prom nights are extremely important for teenagers, you must remember that. Remind your children that nowadays social networks let them stay in touch with their friends at all times. They might find some comfort in that.

Be patient

Finally, what you need in order to successfully prepare your children for a long distance move is patience. They will have endless lists of questions and complaints, but just keep calm and try to do your best explaining and answering. Your children will probably find moving to be the most important event of their life so far, and it won’t be far from the truth. And they need their parents to show them every silver lining in that cloud.

Be positive about the relocation

If your kids see you complain about the move all the time, chances are they will complain as well. While they may not like the idea of moving very much, it is your attitude towards it that can make the change. As a parent, you haven`t decided to move on a spur, you must have a good reason for it. Whether it is job-related, or school-related that reason should help you have a positive attitude towards relocation. Although it may be hard, try to enjoy the little things and your children will notice that and even start behaving like you.

Virtual tour for long distance moves

After you have chosen your new residence, both you and your children will be eager to see what it looks like. When you finish all of the tasks for the day, sit down with your children and organize a virtual tour of their new home. This is one of the best ways to prepare your children for a long distance move. You can go on Google Street and find your new place of residence. Furthermore, they will be interested in visiting their new neighborhood, so show them parks, malls, rivers, etc. While you are doing this, talk to them about all the things you might do there. Listen to their reactions, and allow them to express their opinions. The more you talk about your relocation and visit the new place even virtually, the more they will be eager to move.

Keep up with your daily life

Don`t let the fact that you are moving stop you from doing everything that you used to do. Most of the time, the children are anxious because their lives have changed even before the relocation itself. Keep up with all the fun things you used to do with your kids. Movie nights on Thursdays should still be on, long walks, or jogging as well. Play some loud music to break the tension. Always have in mind that you have a good reason for relocation, so there is no reason to think of it as a bad thing that must ruin this part of your life.

Make the moving part fun

Do this especially if you have younger children. Remember to pack all of their favorite things. This may include their favorite blanket, toys, books, food. Anything that will keep them calm if they get anxious or bored. Also, a great idea is to plan the trip itself. If you have time, check out some sightseeing options. A few detours will not affect your moving very much, and your kids will love it no matter how old they are.

Don`t expect perfection

When you are in the process of preparing your children for long distance relocation, do yourself a favor and don`t expect perfection. Life is not always easy and without problems, so you should not go over your limits to make it such for your kids. You should not solve all of their problems, and you need to let them figure some things out for themselves. Prepare yourself as well for what is in front of you, and this will be the best example for your kids. Things will go wrong, and you and your kids will make mistakes, but this is all life. What we know for sure is that hiring professional long distance Brooklyn movers is something that will make relocation much easier, as you will be able to dedicate more time to your kids and their feelings. Good luck!