Moving to a new home can be tough. Moving with school-age children, especially in the middle of the school year is definitely more challenging. Aside from navigating through a long list of tasks involved in the moving process, you also need to assist your child/children with the transition to their new school. Adapting to new people and a new environment is also a stressful experience for children, so you have to be extra patient in helping them with the transition.
Whether you’re moving on your own or with the help of professional removalists during the summer or in the middle of the school year, there are several things you can do when planning your move to create a more positive experience for everyone involved. Here are some tips for planning your move:
Research school options
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If the location for your move has been set, it is recommended that you thoroughly research the public and private schools in the area. You can look online for the best schools near you, aside from accessing the list of schools online and reading reviews provided by parents or students, you can go through the website of each school to check their curriculum and gather important information that will help you make guided decisions in choosing a school. If you know anyone in the area, consider asking them for recommendations.
Discuss the move with your children
Depending on the age of your children, they may not be able to help much with the preparation for the move. However, this does not mean that you won’t inform them about the move until the last minute. Children often need more time to process their feelings about big changes, so informing them about upcoming changes can help them to accept and adapt to the changes. As soon as you have finalised when and where you will move, organise a “family meeting” and discuss the details of the move with their children. When possible, get them involved in the preparations and consider their feedback in making certain choices.
Notify the school about the move and secure school records
Inform the school about your upcoming move and secure the required documents to transfer your children to another school. In case you run out of time to secure these documents, reach out to the school and ask them to transfer all official documents and transcripts to the new school.
Look into facilities that offer family-friendly activities
As you research your new community, look for facilities or attractions where you can enjoy various family-friendly activities. Prior to the move, you can use this information to give your children something to look forward to, especially when they feel lonely about moving away from familiar attractions and leaving friends behind. Once you’ve moved, you can visit these locations to unwind and have quality time with the family as you try to adjust, meet new people, and learn about the community.
Visit top school choices
When possible, visit the schools that made it to the top of your list. You can visit alone or bring your children with you. Going to each school is a good opportunity to see if the schools have the right facilities and amenities to offer students a good learning experience. Consider interacting with the faculty and school staff to learn more about the school and its curriculum. If you’re taking your children with you to see the school, you can ask for their thoughts about each school. The additional information you gather from the visit will help you make guided decisions in choosing the right choice for your children.
Organise a Goodbye party
Partings are never easy for young children. Hence, hosting a goodbye party for your children will give them an opportunity to properly say goodbye to family, friends, and neighbours. Be sure to exchange contact information with the parents of other children so they can stay in touch even after the move. When possible, host fun activities and take pictures, so children can happily look back on these fun memories whenever they feel lonely or overwhelmed after the move.
Secure medical records
A few weeks prior to your move, be sure to visit your family doctor or healthcare provider to secure the medical records of every family member. Inform them of the move and consider asking them if they recommended another professional in the area you’re moving to.
Prepare an essentials bag for the family
As your moving day approaches, remember to pack an essentials bag or box. This container must hold enough essential items for every member of the family. Pack enough clothes, food, toiletries, medication, a first aid kit, and other essential items that you may need immediately upon arrival. This way, you have access to items you will need to make it through the night without having to unpack too many boxes.
Although it is not always required, arranging for child care on your moving day helps in reducing (stressors?). By keeping your children away from all the action, you can rest assured that they are safe and cared for whilst you work. This will allow you to do moving-related tasks more efficiently since you won’t have to worry about running into the young ones whilst moving items out of the house and catering to their other needs. If you’re opting for a DIY move, you can ask someone from your family or friends to look after the children until you are all set for the move.
