Working in the real estate industry, I often get friends coming to me with questions about moving house and moving with kids seems to come up quite a bit.
Moving can often be very traumatic for children as it involves saying goodbye to friends and familiar surroundings. Make sure you help your kids say a proper farewell to both your home and the local community you are leaving, but also plan some fun things to do as soon as you get to your new house. When my own family moved for the first time, I took my youngest daughter down to our local corner shop for ice-cream and to say goodbye to the lovely couple who ran the store. After the move, we ventured out to find a new ice-cream shop and it really helped my daughter to understand that our new neighbourhood could be fun too! Just say taking your kids for icecream and to the local park etc. are great ways to help kids acustomise to their new surroundings.
Maintaining normalcy is key in these situations. Re-establishing family routines such as bedtimes and mealtimes as soon as you can says to your children "we're the same family, just in a different (not to mention better!) house!" When unpacking, it is important to focus on the 'high-use' rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom(s) and family room to establish some normalcy in your new home. A high priority should also be setting up your children's bedrooms. Allow them some freedom in the setup, such as choosing where their bed will go. Children will be more comfortable and settled if they feel the space is truly theirs.
Try to become familiar with your new neighbourhood as quickly as possible by taking your children out on walks and bike rides. This way your family will uncover all the fun new activities that the area has to offer, such as parks and playgrounds, as well as help your children feel comfortable and safe in their new environment. Be active in helping your kids make friends in your new community, but remember that it is also important to help them to stay in touch with old friends. After all, you can never have too many friends!
I hope you find these tips helpful for what can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life! Remember that our Century 21 agents, Australia-wide, can always give you more personalized advice whenever you need it.