So you effectively prepared your children for the big move, but now you’re in your new home and things aren’t going so smoothly anymore. Maybe they miss their old home, maybe things aren’t quite the same here as they used to be. No matter what the situation, there is a way for you to help them through it all, as long as you have a little idea what you need to do.
Adjusting to Your New Life
The moving process doesn’t end when you unpack in your new home. The period of adjustment immediately afterwards also weighs heavily on your children. Luckily, we found a few experts on the process who gave us their take on how to handle the post-moving process so that your children feel at home in no time.
Separation Anxiety
Dr. Fran Walfish is a psychotherapist based out of Beverly Hills who knows a lot about how the moving process can affect children. According to Dr. Walfish, feelings of separation anxiety are common in children during any big change, especially into a new home.
“As much as there may be a positive effect of excitement for the child, there is usually anxiety and worry attached to saying goodbye to the familiar and hello to the unknown. Common symptoms of separation anxiety include sleep disruption, changes in eating patterns, increased clinginess, and accelerated worries about being alone and isolated.”
Dr. Walfish suggests parents make a book of “our old house and our new house” to help comfort and calm a child’s fears about moving often.
Make Things Feel Like Home
A lot of the time, the little things that you can do for your children are the ones that matter most. Mike Glanz, CEO of HireAHelper has worked in the moving industry for over a decade and has a few simple suggestions that work wonders for children after a move.
“When you’re done decorating their room, bake some cookies. Even if it’s chaos and all of your kitchen materials are packed away – know where your cookie sheet is, pre-heat the oven, and bake some pre-made cookie dough. It will feel more like home.”
Take Care of Yourself
One of the best ways to ensure your kids can make it through the moving process as conveniently as possible is to make sure you take care of yourself. Natalie Moore works as a therapist in Los Angeles and described how important this can be for your children.
“Moving is a huge stressor not only for the kids, but also for the parents! Remember that children pick up on everything that we’re feeling – they can sense when we’re stressed or calm signaling to their nervous system to either feel stressed or calm. In order to help your kiddos through the transition, make sure that you’re taking the necessary steps to manage your own stress and anxiety. Focus on your self-care, ask for emotional support from others, or just take a few deep, relaxing breaths when you get a moment. This will make a significant positive impact on the little ones.”
Moving to a new home, especially with kids, is always tough. That’s why so many people turn to Price Self Storage to make things a little bit easier. Reserve your personal storage unit today and discover how much easier a relocation can be.
Want more information about preparing your kids for a move? Check out the first part of this series, How to Make Moving Easier on Your Children Part 1: Before the Move.
