Moving To Another State? Proactive Ideas To Help Parents Improve The Process For The Entire Family
Moving from one state to another is not something to be undertaken lightly. Instead, it is a logistical challenge that requires a carefully choreographed plan for moving an entire family and their possessions hundreds or thousands of miles without losing either sanity or furniture along the way. If an interstate move is in the planning stages for your family, the following tips will help you prepare the kids for the move and provide helpful tools to make the actual moving day less stressful for mom and dad, too.
Prepping Kids for Moving Day
No matter whether you are moving to the next state or several states away, moving day (or days) involves several hours of travel for the entire family. Chances are good that mom and dad are already feeling stressed or fatigued about the moving process at this point. It is also probable that kids are feeling a bit out of sorts due to leaving friends and a familiar routine behind. When these stressors are combined with a long car ride to an unfamiliar home, tempers can flare and create even more issues.
To avoid this type of problem, consider helping kids relax and feel more comfortable about an impending move by talking openly and honestly about it from the beginning. Make sure that they understand why the move is necessary for the family, so that they can feel a part of the decision.
Additionally, help them dispel uncertainty by giving them good information about their new home, school and community. Be sure to include information about specific opportunities that will be available to them when living in the new home.
Deliver the information by holding frequent family meetings where you can show them:
- photos, maps and videos from the area that illustrate the school, community and general area
- interesting historical facts or current events about the area
- cultural and recreational opportunities that exist in the new area, including parks, sports teams and special interest groups and attractions
Pack Individual Comfort Bags for the Trip
To help both kids and adults feel more comfortable on moving day, pre-pack a comfort bag to take along in the car for each person. Ideally, this bag should contain basics items, such as preferred snack foods, bottled water or juices, sweaters or a small blanket. For added interest, include a handheld game, book or toy that can be managed easily in the car.
By using these ideas to help kids understand and feel comfortable with the move, parents can reduce stress and create a better experience for themselves, too. For even more great ideas on making your move as easy as possible, contact the customer service department for an interstate mover in your area, such as Wheaton World Wide Moving. They will be able to provide information to help facilitate and improve every step of your entire moving process.