Moving More Than Furniture
We do a lot of residential moves at A-1 First Class Viking Moving & Storage. And although we deal mostly with the movement of possessions, we’re actually moving people’s lives. Any change can be stressful, but moving is one of the greatest stresses we face in our lives. In fact, in terms of severity, moving ranks just after losing a close relative and just ahead of illness, loss of a job, and divorce.
Adults are generally concerned with the practical issues of moving, but children are generally focused on the losses they will incur – friendships, comfortable surroundings, the things they know.
How can you make a move less stressful for a child?
- Talk about it, starting early in the process, so they have as much time as possible to get used to the idea. Give them as much information as they can handle.
- Be sensitive to their needs. Some kids want their new room identical to their old – but some want an entirely new décor!
- Get them involved. Let them choose paint colors for their room, let them “design” their room…help make them feel part of the process.
- Be honest with them…and don’t make any promises you can’t keep.
- If you can, visit your new home with the child(ren) before the move. Eat in a local restaurant, see a movie, go shopping, walk through town. This makes the upcoming move more “real.”
As movers, we can talk with children about how we pack their toys, their treasures, their furniture and possessions, and how they want the items arranged in their new room. Believe it or not, a lot of young children think they’ll never see their toys again once they go in the box!
Moving can be a positive experience! It requires lots of planning and communication, but it’s a good time to bring the family together to talk about expectations and feelings, too.
