Moving home
is stressful enough as an adult, but for your children and pets it
can often be a much more intense experience. Generally, children are
quite resistant to sudden change, and the same can be said of most
domestic animals too. There are a few things you can do, however, to
make sure that your move has minimal negative impact on your family,
and even create a positive experience for children especially.
Preparing
for the move
It’s best to inform your children you are moving home as soon as possible. The sooner they are aware of the fact and the more time they will have to come to terms with the idea. It can also be a good idea to bring your children with you to see your new home before you move in. This will give them a sense of what to expect, and you could even let them choose their room and so on, giving them something to look forward to.
For your pets, it’s a good idea to get them checked out at your local vets to make sure they are healthy before the move. Also, if they are not used to car travel, you can try taking them with you on a run to the shops or if you have other quick errands. This will acclimatise them to travel slowly, if they are not used to it, and make moving day a bit less stressful for them.
Get your children involved
While of course, most of the hard work should be dealt with by the adults, there are other ways that you can get your children involved. The range of options largely depends on what age they are. If you have young children, then you can ask them about helping you out with ideas for decoration or where to put furniture, especially in their own rooms. This help them feel involved in the relocation process and not only get used to the idea of moving but hopefully create something for them to look forward to as well.
For older or teenage children, moving home may not be as much of an upheaval, but it can still be worth getting them involved. Older children might be able to help you with the packing and organising, as well as clearing out old things from the house, and so on.
Either way,
do your best to make sure that your children feel part of the
process, and make sure you answer any questions they might have about
moving home. They might not all come at once, so make sure you are
able to give your children the time to make them feel comfortable
with moving. Keep an eye out for any changes in behaviour, as these
can be signs of stress. If your child is not sleeping well, or
changes their behaviour drastically, then they may be concerned about
the move. Make it clear that they can talk to you about it at
anytime, and consult your doctor for additional advice if necessary.
Pets and
moving day
Most
pets won’t
like being cooped up in a travel cage for long, and even if you have
acclimatised them to it somewhat as suggested above, it can be a good
idea to make sure they have a favourite toy or something that smells
familiar with them. Ideally, try to travel with your pets. They won’t
take up much space in the car, so you can easily take them yourself.
Constantly reassuring them vocally can be helpful to keep them at
ease when travelling, and if you have children travelling with you,
keep the pets
close to them so they both have some company for the journey.
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