Helping Your Kids Adjust To Moving Into A New Home
Are you concerned about how your children are going to take moving into a new home? A move can be confusing and difficult for children, especially if the family will be moving to a whole new area where they will be switching schools and away from all their friends. There are some things that you can do that will help to make the transition easier on them. Sometimes, you can even make the move exciting for them with a little extra effort. Here are some tips for helping your kids adjust better as you look for house listings:
Involve your children in the buying process
Depending on your children's ages, you may want to involve them in the buying process. If they are old enough to behave during the viewing of a house that's on the market and which may fit your criteria, then you should bring them with you. Point out the things that you feel they will be excited about, such as a large backyard, big bedrooms, a finished basement that can be turned into a game room, etc. Ask them what they think about different features the house has and listen to them. Let them know that this is a family decision, so they feel more in charge of their life and less like they are being forced into a move they don't want.
Find fun places to go to in the area
Once you decide on a house, you want to take your children to some of the exciting places that the new house has around it, even before escrow closes. This way, they can get excited about the fact that these are places they will be able to visit often once you move into the house. Some examples of fun places you can take them to include a water park, a pizza place with lots of games, an arcade, an amusement park, a skating rink or anywhere else that you know your child will have a fantastic time at.
Help your child meet kids in the neighborhood shortly after moving in
There are a lot of different ways you can help your children meet kids that live nearby after you have moved into the place. You can go on daily walks or bike rides along the neighborhood. When you see children their own age, stop and allow them to introduce themselves. Also, you can put them in groups near your house, such as church groups, a boy or girl scouts club or other nearby classes like martial arts or gymnastics.