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Moving with children: How to prepare

Moving with children can be exciting, but is also stressful both for you and your kids. Sooner or later, many families face the life event of moving. This process can cause a lot of disorder for parents, but the experience can be even more traumatic for kids. They may not be a part of the decision to move and might not understand it. Kids can need some time and special attention during the transition. We are offering you some useful tips that will help you lessen the drama. Try these tips to make the process less stressful for everyone. If you follow our advice, you can have a smooth move to Los Angeles with your kid.

Have a smooth move to LA with your kids
Moving with children

Prepare your child for a move

Making the decision of moving to LA

Most kids thrive on familiarity and routine. Moving to a big city like LA can be a big shock for them, especially if you are moving from a smaller town or from another state. Children are typically not thrilled by such an event. In fact, they rarely enjoy this kind of change. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to ease the process. So as you consider a relocation to LA, put on the scales the benefits of that change against the comfort that established surroundings, school, and social life give your kids. If your family has recently dealt with a major life change, like divorce or death, it is better to put off a move. If possible, give your kids time to adjust.

The decision to move is maybe out of your hands. It could be due to a job transfer or financial issues. However, even if you are not happy about the move, try to maintain a positive attitude about it. During times of transition, a parent’s attitudes can affect kids a lot, who may be looking for reassurance. Your attitude about moving and your willingness to let your children share in the experience will influence their feelings.

Have a family meeting and discuss the move with kids

Have a family meeting about the move
Discuss the move with kids

No matter what are the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids to move to LA is to talk about it. Try to give them as much information about the move as soon as you can. Answer their questions truthfully, and be prepared to both positive and negative reactions. Even if the move means an improvement in family life, kids don’t always understand that. They may be focused just on the terrifying perspectives of the change. 

Involve kids in the planning

When moving with children, involve kids in the planning as much as possible. This will make them feel like participants in the process. Both house-hunting process or the search for a new school. Also, it can make them feel more familiar with the move and less like it is being forced on them. If you are moving across town, take your kids to visit the new house and research the new neighborhood.

Involve your children, especially if they are older, in the selection process of the new home. Once you have narrowed the choices down to two or three houses, get some feedback from the kids. If possible, take them to see the homes. If you are moving to another city, show them photos of each home, describe the neighborhoods and take a virtual tour online. Ask them about their opinion for each house. Let them know you will take their opinion into consideration when making the final decision. When you choose the house, keep them posted through the process. Have a little celebration once you know you have got the house.

Get your children excited

Get your children excited about the move
Make the move to LA exciting for your kids

It is important that you as a parent do your homework. No matter if it is finding fun places for your child, like a park, hobby, activity, something the child has to look forward to. Investigate schools, academics and sports for your kids, clubs and activities they can be involved in. If you are moving out of state, maybe the weather will be warmer or colder. There are plenty of fun activities they can learn like surfing, skiing, etc. Get them excited about picking their room, or decorating, or having a game room in the basement, etc. Make the move to LA exciting for your child and something they will look forward to. If you want to make the process of moving with children a little easier, this is a good advice to take.

Allow your children to ask questions and make suggestions

Involve your child with picking out the house, or suggesting a color for a room. Let them feel like they are an important part of this process. Allow you child to ask questions, and express likes and dislikes about moving. This will help them adjust and will make the move to Los Angeles a lot easier. Although it may not be always peaches and cream with kids, they know they can come to you. Especially if they are not adapting well by you letting them be part of the process. No doubt, there will be mixed emotions whether they are a teenager or a child. Moving with children is not an easy process, especially with teens. They have to make new friends, fit in new school, adapt to a new neighborhood, etc.

What to do with kids on moving day?

Make arrangements for young children

It is a good idea to make arrangements for your younger children on moving day. Moving is already a very stressful process for itself. By having your kids stay with family or friends for a day, it will be a lot easier. And it does not matter if you are using local home movers, long distance movers, or doing it yourself. It is also a good idea for safety reasons, so nobody gets injured.

Let them keep their personal items

Let your child keep his personal things during the move
Let your kids keep their toys with them

Keep the personal items of your kids, like blankets, teddy bears, favorite pillows in sight or take them with you. This way, when you are settling in, your child is able to adjust with their special items. Allow your teens to keep personal things they will need for the first night with them. If long distance moving, it is a good idea if you are traveling on a plane or long car ride to have activities and snacks on hand (magazines, books, DVD, games, etc). Once you are settled in, it is time to adjust to your new lifestyle, both your kids and you.

Tips to ease moving to LA for your kids

  • Keep explanations clear and simple.
  • Use a story to explain the move, or use toy trucks and furniture to act it out.
  • When you pack your kid’s toys in boxes, make sure to explain that you are not throwing them away.
  • If your new home is nearby, go there to visit before the move and take a few toys over each time.
  • Hold off on getting rid of your child’s old bedroom furniture, which may provide a sense of comfort in the new house. It might even be a good idea to arrange furniture in a similar way in the new bedroom.
  • Avoid making other big changes during the move, like toilet training or advancing a kid to a bed from a crib.
  • Arrange for your kid to stay with a babysitter on moving day.
April 3, 2017

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