Moving is tough, but moving when your kids aren’t happy about it can be gut-wrenching. Kids, like grown ups, can get attached to their childhood home, and miss their old neighborhood or school. While in time they’ll get over it, there are a few things you can do right now even before you move to get them excited about the prospect of moving into a custom home designed for growing families.
Here are a few actionable tips and strategies you can use to make them feel good about the move:
Choose a floor plan that they’ll love
Are you interested in custom homes for move up buyers? That must mean your family is expanding or already has expanded beyond the boundaries of your old home. Explain to your kids that this new move will mean more elbow room, more indoor fort building, and more family fun time. Here are a few floor plans to accomplish your family goals:
- No more waiting for the bathroom with this three bathroom floor plan - The Ashland
- With a den and bonus room, there are two great options for a kid’s retreat - The Mt. Hood
- Five bedrooms with a great room and bonus room makes more spacious living to accommodate a growing family - The Livingston
Involve them in the process
A slide in the living room? Be silly and dream big, and let them experience how fun building a home can be (who knows, maybe one day it’ll turn them into a budding architect or designer)!
Ask your child for his or her input in the custom build process. Let your child assist you in picking out paint colors, finishes, and other elements of your home, especially when it comes to his or her new bedroom. This will make your child feel more invested in the new home.
Give your child a chance to say goodbye
From toddlers to teenagers, no matter what age your child is, they need to say goodbye to their home, their friends, and their sentimental attachment. Give them enough time to spend with their friends to properly leave.
Plan to move in the summer
If it’s possible, consider moving in the summer months. This will make it easier for your child if he or she has to start at a new school. No one wants to be the new kid who’s arrived in the middle of the school year. A summer move will also give your child a chance to acclimate to the new home and surroundings. He or she will feel more established and less like a stranger. Want some great news? If you start now, you can design, build, and move in before your kids enter school next year!
Stick with your routines
If you have a normal routine (lights out at 9pm or Saturday afternoon movie time), stick to it. Don’t switch your schedule along with your house. Not staying with a set routine can cause your child to feel afraid and like his or her entire world is out of control. Although some things will change, keeping a familiar schedule will reassure your child that all will return to normal.
Help them make friends
This is advice for those with younger children. Unless your child is never shy and never meets a stranger, make an effort to socialize them. If your new neighborhood has other kids that are the same age as your child(ren), strike up a friendship with their parents and plan play dates to introduce them to new friends.
You can also invite newly made friends over to your home for a fun game night. A floor plan like The Creston is perfect for entertaining with its second floor bonus room.
Goodbye for now, but not forever
Let your kids know they will still have their old friends, even if they won’t get to see them every day. Plan times for them to FaceTime so they can still swap memories and laughter with their favorite buddies. If you moved somewhere within driving distance, host sleepover weekends, so your kids learn the value of friendship near and far.
Are you ready to start the moving process?
