When your small kids jump around asking “Is it time to move to our new house yet?” and impatiently gather their favorite toys to make sure you will not forget to take them – then you are likely to be infected with their enthusiasm, as well. The stress of the upcoming move in Greater Vancouver, BC or elsewhere in Canada becomes tolerable and you get more and more excited with every passing day.
On the other hand, if your children resist the idea of moving, start complaining and get sad because of the inevitable changes that the unfamiliar living space will bring to their lives, your mood will dampen quickly, too. Fear of the unknown is a powerful setback for adults and adolescents alike. Among all important things to consider when planning a move, the effects it will have on your children is of utmost priority.
How Moving House Affects Children’s Development?
Young children like routine activities because the latter are safe and easy to get used to. If your little ones know what to expect, they feel reassured and calm. They trust familiar surroundings which hide no dangers and present only limited challenges. Their reaction to the imminent changes strongly depends on their expectations, so it’s entirely up to you to spark their curiosity and help them accept all that is new in a positive way.
If your move is a local one, your children will be able to meet with their old friends regularly, maybe even to continue attending the same school. In this case the relocation will not affect them significantly.
A cross-country move, however, will present much greater challenges. Your children will encounter different situations, will become acquainted with unfamiliar points of view, will hear unique perspectives and ideas which are sure to stir up their minds.
Moving abroad will affect children’s development most of all because they will have to leave their old world behind and adapt to a unique culture and lifestyle. Probably they will need to pick up a different language, apprehend different social norms, learn to respect different beliefs and sets of value. This should result in a gigantic leap forward for your kids.
However, children’s social development can be severely hindered if their struggle to find their place in the new environment turns out to be unsuccessful. Not being able to fit in will cause them to become reclusive and suffer from loneliness.
New Place Means New School
Even if your children are already teenagers, changing schools will certainly influence them a lot – what they have learned or dreamed about in school may determine their future. Youngsters often suffer from problems at school, so be extra careful when choosing the educational facility your kids will attend.
This is tough, so be considerate and caring. Look for a place with friendly environment and if possible other new students. Do your best to ensure a problem-free transition to the new school:
- visit it beforehand together with your children;
- meet the teachers and the school psychologists and officials, explain the situation and ask them for help and advice;
- contact families whose kids will be the future classmates of your own;
- enroll your children in the most popular afterschool activities.
However, do not forget the quality teaching practice. It will greatly affect children’s academic development. A good school will provide your children the opportunity to advance in various spheres of science, art, handicrafts, sports, music, etc. But statistically, children who move often, perform low at school because of the different teaching methods and required material. The time lost in the moving process also contributes to the overwhelming academic difficulties children may experience shortly after a move.
New Place Means New Opportunities
Your new city may be famous for its first-class junior sports teams. Or the largest library collection in the country may be located just a few miles away. Or a magnificent history museum, or an intriguing observatory… Take advantage of the new opportunities to ignite your kids’ passion for some useful crafts, activities or hobbies.
Research the options and encourage your young ones to participate actively in whatever they find interesting. This may improve a skill you didn’t know about so far, or provoke unforeseen creativity, resourcefulness and talents. Children’s artistic development is usually unpredictable but relocation might give it a boost.
So, your best course of action when moving with children is to develop a positive attitude and take advantage of all the available opportunities to help them to progress and to adapt easily. Then they will respond positively to the changes and this will boost their development with turbo speed!
How Moving House Affects Children’s Behavior?
Shortly after the move you are sure to experience a change in your children’s behavior, most probably – a negative one. The kids may feel lonely and misunderstood, bored and forced to cope with various difficulties. Do not rush things and allow some time for the little ones to get used to all the new stuff around. If you expect children to overflow with exhilaration and positive constructive energy, you will be bitterly disappointed. Wait for them to adapt, whet their appetite for interesting new activities, stimulate their adventurous spirit. Most importantly – communicate about everything, share emotions and expectations. When your children trust you, you will know what the real problems are and will be able to provide support and guidance.
Children Will Become More Independent And More Reliable
Achieving independence is your best shot! It’s wise if during the moving preparations you ask your kids to decide which of their possessions to take, charge them with responsibility for their actions and behavior on moving day and place them in a situation to resolve many issues upon arrival at your new place. Be prudent enough to consult with them about the interior of their new room and some other arrangements in the house. A child loves it when his/her opinion matters; this approach helps adolescents to become more reasonable and more trustworthy.
You And Your Child Will Become Even Closer
To defeat the anxiety and frustration caused by all the abrupt changes in their life, children will resort to your loving care and emotional support. Make sure to be very generous with those and to find enough time to spend with your precious ones, regardless of how much work you have waiting for you. This is a unique chance to improve your relationship, to help overcome fears, to restore the feeling of security, to guide your children on how to find solutions, to share their dreams.
Moving house affects children’s development but you are in the position to make the best out of it. Help your kids escape from apathy and boredom and encourage them to experiment and to dream. Take care of your beloved ones and prepare them well for the moving process. Remember – while a professional Greater Vancouver moving company can help you cope with all tedious tasks related to the organization and execution of the relocation, nothing and no one can replace your love when it comes to assuaging your children, relieving the stress and pointing them to the right direction.
Original source: https://www.mymovingreviews.com
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