Helping Kids with a Move

I have been reading a lot of articles lately in other real estate blogs.  I think that this all varies depending on the age of the kids, but plenty of ideas here work even for the youngest set.  We are preparing for a move of our own, and our little ones are excited, but I know it will be hard to leave our first home together. 

Here's an excerpt from an article I found on Zillow's blog.  I hope it helps!     

Jennifer

Moving can be a stressful for adults, and that stress level can skyrocket if the whole family isn’t on board. How do you get buy-in from kids who are being forced to leave their schools, sports teams, friends and family? Chances are, there will be tears along the way, but these tips may help ease the shock and make the experience a positive one for the whole gang:

Share the news in a timely fashion

The more time they have to think about and prepare for the move, the easier it will be for them. Plus, the absolute worst thing that could happen is to have your children inadvertently hear about the move from a teacher or a friend’s parent. When you first talk about the move, make sure you allow plenty of time for the conversation: It’s likely your children will have lots of questions.

Listen

Your kids may be excited about the move, or they may feel sad. Either way, you need to hear them out and help them work through their feelings.

Involve them

If at all possible, sit down together and create a family wish list for your new home. Teens may want a game room. A young child may want to live near a park. Don’t make promises but, rather, let family members know their desires will be considered as you search for a new home. Becoming part of the search may help turn anxiety into excitement.

Don’t share too much

This is especially true if you need to move because of financial hardship. Knowing too many details about the family’s finances could just add to a child’s anxiety.

Get them excited about the move

Older kids may be able to help with online searches for information about houses, schools, nearby dog parks and more. Ask the kids to pack and label their own boxes. Empower them to make decisions about how their new bedrooms will be decorated.

Don’t downplay good-byes

Talk with your children about how they’d like to say good-bye to their closest friends. Do they want to invite a bunch of friends to a party? Would they rather host one last sleepover with a best friend? Would they like to create a scrapbook their friends can sign? Let your children know that you appreciate the impact this move will have on them and you want their good-byes to be meaningful.

excerpted from Making Your Next Move Easier on the Kids

By, Mary Boone

So what do you think?  Has anyone ever moved with kids?  Is there anything you did to make it easier?


[Source]http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-10-18/making-your-next-move-easier-on-the-kids/