Moving is a jarring experience for anyone. It is especially difficult for children to move to a new place. Moving to Chicago or any new place is rough on the entire family.

A child who has never moved before might have a very hard time getting used to a new apartment in a new city. It can be overwhelming to have so many things change so quickly. Making sure your new apartment is a place your child feels comfortable is a very important part of helping them adjust to a new city.

Children need to feel like the place they live in is safe and familiar. Getting your child used to a new place does not have to be an ordeal. Here are a few fun ways that work to help adjust your child to a new apartment.

1. Make it Exciting

Be excited about moving. If your child notices that you are stressed or upset about moving then they will adopt that attitude. You having a positive attitude about going to a new place will help your child have one too.

Find fun things to do in the area before you go. If your child has an exciting visit to their new home when before they move they will feel better about living there permanently. Go to some of the famous sights in the city and make it clear they will be so close to your new apartment so they can go to all the new places they want.

Making a move go smoothly requires everyone feeling okay about leaving their old home. Making the new place you are going more exciting is a good way to get everyone on board. Kids can pick up when you are not excited so make sure you make it exciting for you too.

2. Unpack

The first thing you do when you move to a new apartment is eating because moving makes you hungry. The second thing you should do is unpack everything. The quicker you unpack the faster your apartment will feel like home.

Making sure your children’s room has all of their things out in the way they like is a great way to make them feel at home. If all of the things they consider a part of their home are in the new apartment they will feel much more comfortable. Being in a new place is hard enough for a child without having to worry about where their things are.

If your belongings are coming in later than you then make sure you take a few basic things with you. Your child’s pillow, a few toys, and maybe some books they have grown up with will help them feel like they still have the things they know. It may be a new place but not all of it is new.

3. Tour

Make your new apartment a game. Children love exploring new places and finding cool new things about where they are. Let them explore the entire apartment as soon as you move in.

Show them their room and make sure they know that it is much cooler than their old room. Show them the cool features your new apartment has that your old one did not. It is important they view this move as an upgrade filled with new things for them to enjoy.

When you are done unpacking go with them to explore the entire complex. It is a good way to make sure your child will know where to go if they get lost, but it is also a way for them to find cool new places. Maybe you will find a cute outdoor space or some cool places to play hide and seek. No matter what make sure they feel like it is a fun place to live.

4. Routine

Quickly make a new routine your child can get used to. Moving has thrown all of your lives into the air for a while. Once you are moved in it is time to get back into a routine.

A set group of things to do in a day is a great way to make a move seem like any other time. Make sure you already have them signed into school so they can start immediately and make friends. Once a child starts going to school wherever they live feels like a mundane part of everyday life.

A routine helps not just your child but you feel more settled in your new place. If you get used to being in your new home and going about your days as normal then your apartment will start to feel like home. A huge part of settling in is getting into a good groove.

5. Talk

Your child might be very worried and confused about what a move will mean for them. There are a lot of things they will feel like they are losing. It is important to let them express those worries and try to help them solve the problem.

If they are worried about losing friends make sure they know they will be able to call their old friends any time they want. Also, try to set up a plan to visit in the next year so they know they will definitely see them again. Knowing they aren’t losing people forever is a good way to make your child feel better about leaving.

Explain what the move will mean and why you are moving. If your child understands exactly what is happening and why they will feel more comfortable. It is important your child knows that they can ask you anything about the move and what their new home will be like and you will be willing to talk about it. They need to feel like this move is something important instead of something scary.

Final Thought

Moving is hard on everyone. For the parents, it is stressful. For children, it can be very scary.

Make sure you communicate with your child about the entire move. The more they know about it the less scary it will be. If they understand why they are leaving their old home they will feel like they are going away for a purpose instead of just abandoning everything.

Try to make the move fun at first. Everything about a new place to live is new and exciting so make sure your child feels that excitement. Once they settle in it will feel like home, but at first, it should feel like a great adventure. All of this will make a move much easier for your child.