Moving interstate or long distance can be stressful. Add children to the mix and stress levels can sky-rocket! Kids love routine and the familiar so the prospect of new home, school, neighbourhood and friends can be terrifying to them, causing them to behave in a negative way towards the move. Here are our 8 top tips for helping the little ones prepare and adjust for the big move.
  • ​Make a memory book
    • Getting emotionally ready for the move is a great idea to get kids ready for the sad time saying goodbye to all the things they know and love. Create a scrapbook with photos of your house, their room, their friends and favourite places to play and visit and create a book of memories they can look back on once you've moved.
  • Throw a party!
    • Make the move a positive thing by celebrating the friends and memories you're leaving behind but also creating excitement on all that there is to look forward to.
  • Get them packing
    • Although, you can undoubtably do it better and more quickly yourself, getting the kids involved in packing up their own things gives them a sense of autonomy and involvement in the move.
  • Maintain old ties
    • With things like email, skype and instant messaging, it is so easy to stay in touch these days. Encourage your children to maintain their friendships - they could even do it old school, with a handwritten letter!
  • Geography lesson
    • Kids love maps, especially online ones with street view and GPS. Look up your house and the route from your current house to your new one. Look up fun facts/landmarks about the route between the two.
  • The NEW house
    • Get the kids excited about the new house, if possible let them choose their own room and have input into decorating it. Explore the house/neighbourhood together to get the kids familiar with it all as soon as possible.
  • T Day - (Travel Day!)
    • This is the day that you are probably dreading the most, it can be long and boring for kids. Keep them occupied with their own bag with a selection of things to do. Each child could have favourite toys, activities and snacks of their own to access without bothering you.
  • Settle in
    • The best way to make your new house and city feel homely is to get to know it. Seek out your local park, library, cafe or anywhere you usually visit regularly. These are great places to visit and possibly make new friends and give your kids a sense of belonging at their new home.
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