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Three childrens and need to handle them carefully in making a house move?

12 replies

DaynaBen · 22/01/2014 07:15

We have to move to a new house and I have three kids of two, four and six years old.During house move I really take care of them.May we discuss or involve them in the planning of house move or not? Any suggestion.

OP posts:
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MaeveWest · 22/01/2014 07:17

My youngest 7 at time of move and he knew.

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kilmuir · 22/01/2014 07:18

Not sure why you wouldn't????

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LIZS · 22/01/2014 07:19

yes talk to them about it , let them choose how their rooms are laid out etc. They will be more resilient to change than you think.

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brokenshoes · 22/01/2014 08:25

There is a really nice sticker book that you could use as a discussion point to introduce the idea of moving house to your children:

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0746099118/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0746066619&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0CNATZESJ37FVGNQN8GT&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">here

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EvaCyrus · 22/01/2014 09:35

Well, you will need to make your move joyful for them. Buy them new toys, give them more time and make them realise that it is going be an exciting change. Meanwhile, I did find a very comprehensive article about handling children during a house move. Hope it works for you.

www.theremoval.com/information/a-sensible-approach-to-handle-children-when-moving-home/"

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TunipTheUnconquerable · 22/01/2014 09:47

I'm talking to my kids (aged 4, 7 and 8) about it. They have each been promised a swivel chair (Ikea's cheapest is £13), we're discussing their room colours with them and I've said they can have a leaving party (I'll probably regret that, but hey ho.)
The biggest risk is disappointment if it falls through but tbh I think they'd probably bounce back from that better than we would.

Thanks for the link, Eva. It's good.

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EvaCyrus · 22/01/2014 09:51
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specialsubject · 22/01/2014 10:40

tell them by all means - one thing to make clear is that they take all their toys etc with them, as kids don't always understand this.

nice to know they can choose their colours too - don't offer choice of rooms though, you do that.

and they need to declutter too, time to pass on outgrown stuff.

that's the end of their involvement.

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TunipTheUnconquerable · 22/01/2014 10:41

Oh that's so true, SpecialSubject. I've been asked very anxiously if we'll have a tv in the new house.

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FlightofFancy · 22/01/2014 13:13

My DS was 4 when we moved and was excited about it. We didn't mention it though until we knew things were far enough along that it was probably all going through.

We did a follow up visit to the new house a month or so before we moved, and took him with us so he'd seen it before moving day. We were really clear about taking all our stuff with us - as specialsubject said, he was worried about his toys (particularly as we'd had to put a load of stuff in storage to prep our old house to sell).

We also had a sticker book to explain - though beware, depending on where you're moving, quite a few of them are aimed at people moving longer distances, so we had to handle explaining that he wouldn't have to say goodbye to his friends!

Had a special present for moving in day just in case, but didn't need it in the end. Was easy though as he was at nursery so felt like a normal day for him other than going home to a new house in the evening! We'd worked like stink to get his bedroom set up before he got home as well. So cuddlies already in bed, toys out etc.

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vj32 · 22/01/2014 15:58

We just moved, so DS was 2yrs 5 months. I was really worried as he has a speech delay and was just making considerable progress, plus I am pregnant and thought too much change would be upsetting for him.

So, he came with us to view the house (also worked in persuading old lady owner to accept our offer!) and we drove past it a few times telling him it was going to be our new house. I also took him a few times to the playground at the end of the close so he could see the new area and already knew a place to go once we moved in. We talked about moving and things we would do in the new house a lot.

When it came to actually moving, he helped me pack up a lot of his toys. His favourite toys, bedding etc all went in the car with him to Nanny's for the day and he then came back when we were in the new house so he could set up his new room. Within a couple of weeks we decorated his room - just a couple of coats of paint and some wall stickers so easy and quick to do.

He loves the new house, we have had no problems at all. No upset the few times we have driven past the old house, he recognises it is the old house but that's all.

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TaffyandTeenyTaffy · 23/01/2014 07:48

Our ds who is 3 thought our buyers were going to come and take our house away and someone was going to bring the new one hereGrin.

We have made the mistake of telling him a little too early as he is not great with change - and now he asks every day when we are going to the new house and not wanting to sleep in his own room (its rubbish - he wants his new one!)

Planning on sending him to nursery on the day of the move as normal and then to grandparents so we have a little time to get in and set up his room.

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