Every year, 13% of Americans move home, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Many of these individuals will move to a new city due to better career prospects or housing options. Moving to a new city is one of the most stressful life events you can go through and when you’ve got school-age kids in tow, it can be even more of a strain. So, how do you ensure your kids quickly settle into their new homes?

Visit your new home

It typically takes between 8 and 16 weeks to complete a house move. This gives you plenty of time to get your child used to their new home. A school-age child will feel anxious about the move and you should use this period to gently put their mind at rest. A few visits to your new city are highly recommended. This will allow your child to get a feel for the place and get used to the local amenities. If possible, see if your child can view your new home in person with you. This will ease their anxiety as they’ll know exactly where they’ll be living. It will also give them the chance to visualize and plan what they’re going to do with their bedroom when you all move in.

Listen to your child

Studies show that moving during childhood can affect a child’s school performance, social skills, and behavior, so you need to try to prevent this. Your child will feel many emotions as they prepare to move city, including sadness, excitement, and fear. Give your child the chance to talk about how they’re feeling and acknowledge that these are all normal. You should also share your thoughts about the move. Your child may want to spend more time than normal with friends and family members that mean a lot to them. It’s best to encourage this and to give your child plenty of time to reminisce and say goodbye. A nice gesture is to go shopping with your child so they can buy gifts to give to their friends before they move away from home.

Routine is essential

Research has found that children with good routines have better social-emotional health than children without routines. One of your child’s main daily routines will be attending school, so you need to ensure your child is ready to start at their new school in your new city as soon as possible. Search for the best schools in your local area before your moving date and, where possible, visit your preferred one with your child. As soon as you’ve moved into your new property, apply for a school place and arrange for your child to start as soon as possible. While you wait for your application to go through, keep routines in place, such as getting up at 7 am, breakfast at 7:30 am, and so on.

Moving to a new city is a worrying and anxious experience for school-age children. As a parent, be sure to acknowledge their feelings and take steps to make the move as smooth and pain-free as possible.