4 Tips for Moving this Summer

We have a few tips for moving to a new city with kids…

Whether it’s for a new job or a fresh start, moving to a new city is exciting but scary. And if you have kids, there are a few more things to think about. To properly prepare for the best move possible, consider the following tips that’ll make a smooth transition for everyone in the family:

4

Preparing the Kids

A move can have a very emotional impact on anyone, especially kids. Leaving behind a home means departing from a school full of familiar faces, friends and regular activities. Decrease the stress of pulling your kids out of their comfort zone by properly preparing them for the change ahead. Discuss the move, giving them as much information as possible so they can thoroughly process what’s about to happen. Try even having them help you look at the different home options during your hunt—this will help the kids feel like they were involved in the decision and grow more acceptance for it. Ensure them that this isn’t “goodbye” but “see ya later” to the friends they are moving away from. You’ll want to be extra sensitive to their emotions since this can be an overwhelming time.

Research the Neighborhoods

One of the top items on the to-do list is researching the right neighborhood for your family. For example, if you’re moving to San Diego (a fun place for families!), you need to evaluate if you want to live right on the coast or inland. Weigh out the benefits of say living in Pacific Beach where the ocean is right in your backyard but the streets are lined with college kids at bars, versus going a bit more suburban and east of the coast in perhaps La Mesa where many other families reside. You can try finding a happy medium where you’re close enough to the livelihood of the city but far enough where your kids can be placed in a good school district. Or, find the best of both worlds in coastal, family-oriented towns like Carlsbad and Oceanside. Once you’ve chosen a neighborhood, you can look for apartments for rent in San Diego (if you are indeed renting) through sites like For Rent where there are numerous listings that can give you a good feel for each pad from afar.

Enroll Your Kids in Activities

Before your move, look into activities that might interest your kids in the new city. If they played on a soccer team in your current/former city, enroll them in your new hometown’s soccer league. This will give them a sense of familiarity and help them transition by leveraging a skill they already have and know, while introducing them to new friends and teammates. You can also take advantage of different types of activities that might be offered in your new city that weren’t accessible before. The west coast might present a slew of outdoor activities like surfing or hiking that perhaps your east coast home may not have allowed for, or if you’re surrounded by mountains covered in fresh powder, why not try skiing? How about attending a sports game to get everyone excited about their new town? Being surround by people that hold a great sense of hometown pride can show the kids how great the city is appreciated.

Get Involved in the New Community

When you finally move to your new residence, make it a priority to get involved in the community as a family. Proactively planning ahead will help with this. Look into volunteer groups, churches or weekly events happening. The more you establish your presence in town, the more connections and acceptance your family will feel among the residents. There are beneficial ways to prepare your kids for a big move. You can make a foreign territory feel like home if you properly engage them mentally and socially, and set them up for a successful shift into what can be a very positive life change!

Guest post by Stephen Reynolds

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