Guest post by: Cristin Howard
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ENABLE Special Needs Planning.
Moving to a new home often disrupts schedules and can be very overwhelming for all members of the family — especially if one of your kids has special needs. Take heart that your children will adjust quickly. They just need some extra love and comfort during this time. Here are some ways you can make moving easier on your kids and ultimately easier for you.
Encourage Them To Explore
When the time comes for you to take your children to their new house, encourage them to bring along a toy that they can take exploring with them. This way, your children will have a familiar companion as they get used to their new stomping grounds. A baby doll stroller, a pull along toy, or a small remote-controlled car are great options as they go walking from room to room.
Provide Your Children With A Safe Space
In the middle of the chaos of moving, your child may begin to feel displaced. Prepare for these feelings by creating a safe space for your child to rest while the bustle of moving and boxes is kept to the rest of the new house.
If possible, choose one room in the new house, perhaps their bedroom, and make it as kid-friendly as possible. If it’s carpeted, clean it well so it is ready to be rolled on or played on. If there is hardwood flooring, choose a soft area rug to make it comfortable and move their favorite toys in before they arrive. Take care to ensure outlet covers are installed and that their new sanctuary is childproofed.
Make It Feel Like Home
Keep mealtimes consistent
During your transition to the new house, it will benefit your children greatly if you keep their meal times as consistent as possible. This can be achieved by meal prepping the night before and keeping your eye on the time so you can easily set their meals in front of them when they are used to eating. Their emotions and overall well-being will be improved if they are nourished well throughout the day.
Provide extra comfort for the night
Sleeping in new places can be scary for kids. There are new smells and different shadows on their bedroom walls. Prepare to be available to meet their needs as they may wake up disoriented and afraid. Place a nightlight on their dresser so they can always see just enough in their new room to know where they are.
Let them help you
It is without a doubt that your children will ask if they can help you with unpacking. Instead of saying no and sending them off to play, have some special boxes set aside that they can unpack independently. Books are great items for them to unpack as it involves both taking them out of the box and putting them into the shelves.
Remind Your Children That You Love Them
Keep in mind that your kids are going through a lot with the changes and need all the love you can manage. Some extra treats on their lunch plates, unpacking breaks to dig into some ice cream, and lots of hugs throughout the day are great ways to remind your children that you love them and they are still a priority during this hectic time.
Author Bio: Cristin Howard runs Smart Parent Advice, a site that provides parenting advice for moms and dads. Cristin writes about all of the different ups and downs of parenting, provides solutions to common challenges, and reviews products that parents need to purchase for babies and toddlers.
Great tips! I’ve never thought about it this way. I usually give them time to play and familiarize with the environment and that’s all. I’ll try all the tips above.