4 Fun Tips to Help Kids Enjoy Moving into a New House

Moving into a new house, a new state, or a new country is always challenging, and even more so for children. It is easy for kids to experience social anxiety due to the loss of familiarity and security that kids associate with home.

One of the best ways to combat any anxiety associated with relocation is by restoring that sense of joy, peace, stability, and familiarity that they get from the home in other ways as they make the transition.

The truth is that the family itself is the greatest source of familiarity a child has, rather than the physical structure of the house. However, it is harder for children to understand this and adapt to a new town and new home.

Although moving means leaving loved ones behind, it’s important to keep your kids focused on the future and how much moving into a new house can be an exciting adventure!

Handy hacks to make moving into a new house fun

Use technology to paint a picture of where you’re going

One of the best ways to catch the interest of kids these days is by using the one word they understand the most: technology. There are now hundreds of apps and sites that can help you paint a creative picture of your new house even before you move.

For example, one of the coolest apps is Google Earth, a 3D program for visualizing Earth through satellite imagery. It allows you to zoom down to a street-level view of any place in the world in real time! Imagine the fun kids can have exploring their new home as if they were in their own video game.

Help each kid create their own moving-day kit

The toughest part about moving into a new house for most kids is the actual moving day since everyone will be too busy to pay attention to them or distract them from the huge change. It can be fun to let them think of things to do on moving day, and then let them fill up a box or backpack with all those activities.

This can be anything, depending on what the kid enjoys, from coloring books, board games, and snacks to fun DIY kits. You might want to let them pick out and download some digital games or movies for the day to save onto a device to keep them entertained.

Let them help out in a fun way

Getting kids involved in the actual moving process can also be a whole lot of fun. You can get them a little clipboard with a checklist and let them be ‘in charge’ of checking specific things. These can be small things, like how many boxes are in each room. This can give them a sense of responsibility while doing something they usually wouldn’t get to do.

Help the kids pack a ‘vacation’ bag

The first week after moving into a new house can be chaotic, tiring, and stressful for everyone. Think of fun but useful tricks to help you locate basic things faster and easier, which can ease this burden and even be fun.

Encourage your kids to pack a small bag as if they are going on vacation and treat your new home as you would a hotel room getaway. Get the kids to help pick out all the little things they want for their vacation week. Things like their favorite PJs, toys, blankies, and night lights.

Seek Extra Help

Moving can be an exciting adventure, but some children may go through different reactions at different times throughout the move. Helping your kids envision the change with optimism and excitement can help them make sense of things when they feel their world is being turned upside down. Even though fun things may soften the blow of uprooting a kid from everything they have grown attached to in their home, some kids will still struggle to accept the new environment.

This reaction is normal, and you should do all you can to help your kids cope and regain their equilibrium with their new home. At times, this may mean finding someone professional to help your kids work out their emotions, confront their feelings, and find healthy ways to cope with the huge change in their lives.

You don’t have to feel alone just because you are in a new place. Reach out to us at Valencia Christian Counseling, and we can connect you with a trained therapist in Valencia, California.