New beginnings are always exciting. Especially when they come in the form of moving to a new house with your family. An experience that brings a promise of change and the opportunity to make new memories with the people that you love the most in the world.

However, we understand that while moving is an exciting experience, it can also be a stressful one — especially when there are little kids running rings around you when you’re trying to pack up boxes! Children in general react differently to the process of moving house. Some are very happy to go along with things, and will even make it more enjoyable, while others will protest and throw tantrums at every possible opportunity!

But if you take the time to learn about the ways in which you can make this process easier, both for you and for them, then you can actually step back, take a breath, and appreciate this pivotal moment of positive change in your life!

But first, let’s understand a bit more about why children may find moving a difficult process.

Why do children sometimes find moving difficult?

Children are all beautifully unique. That means that they will all come with their own personal strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and anxieties and fears. Some children will find moving to be a stressful or anxiety-inducing experience, and if your child falls into this bracket, then remember that this is completely normal! There are ways in which you can make the process easier for them, and ease them into moving into your brand-new home.

Let’s look at some of these ways.

How can I help my child with the moving process?

Remember that your general goal should be to maintain as regular and consistent a pattern as possible when you are preparing for and following a move. Above all, children need structure, and keeping to one when going through the process of moving will be very helpful.

You can do this in the following ways:

Try not to disrupt their sleeping pattern with the move. For example, resist the temptation to drag your child to the DIY store or garden centre when they should be bedding down for the night. When you move into your new home, make sure to quickly establish the bedtime rituals and sleep patterns that worked best when you lived in your old home.
Be firm with maintaining sleep patterns. If you feel like the move has disrupted your child’s bedtime routines and sleep patterns, then don’t let this throw you off. First, allow a day or two for your child to adjust themselves to their new surroundings. After this, remain firm with ignoring any protest crying that may have evolved from the inconsistency and irregularity of the move. Remember that children need structure and routine to be healthy and happy — especially when it comes to their sleep!
Make changes according to their age. If your child is at the further end of the ‘preschool bracket’ then ease up a little with how lenient you are with allowing them time to adjust. Remember that fears of newness, excitement over novelty, and uncertainty regarding further changes may cause issues such as resistance to bedtime and naps. If you feel you need to, give a little more ‘reassurance time’ at night, or give them a night light for a soothing effect.
Remember to ‘control’ any extra comfort you give. Although it can be very helpful to give extra comfort in certain circumstances, remember to keep control over how much you give! Being somewhat consistent in controlling this extra comfort will stop the child from assuming that it is completely open-ended. For example, you could consider using a kitchen timer to control the amount of extra time for soothing. This timer will allow your child to learn to expect that their parent will leave after a certain time. Try not to get into any unsustainable habits that they come to rely on that you may regret later!

How can I help my child adjust to moving house?

It’s a whole new world for your little one. Here’s how to help them navigate it.