Relocating with children to a new home is always stressful. This may be their first time separating from a safe and familiar family environment. At the same time, it can be the first time your children have to see a larger number of unknown people… Both new children and adults! This is often a traumatic situation both for the children as well as for the parents. It is filled with fear and efforts to adjust to the new situation. But, fear not, we will show you how to help kids adjust to a new home after the LA move.
Things to know before your kids adjust to a new home
When the children arrive at your new home, their previous way of life changes, mostly against their will. So, before your kids adjust to a new home, you should hire the right type of relocation team to help you out. This is especially true if you plan to move abroad or cross country. For starters, look into the best long distance moving companies Los Angeles has to offer. You can also mention to your movers that you move with your children. They will surely have some friendly advice for you.
Once you find the right Los Angeles residential movers for your needs – it’s time to prepare your children for relocation. The point is that the child essentially has no need to change the security of the old family environment for something new and unknown. That is why most children react by crying or protesting… Or in some other way and express their grief over the separation. It is difficult for them to understand that a new home is a good and safe place. The fear of the unknown dominates and even the feeling of abandonment can overwhelm them.
How long can the adaptation period to a new LA home last?
Once your movers and packers Los Angeles help you move with kids, it’s time to help them adjust. It is important for parents to know that a certain amount of fear of the unknown is common. Many questions may arise during this period. You may ask yourself: why do they cry, how long do they cry, do other children cry in these situations, how long does the adaptation period usually take, etc. But the most important one is: what can you do to make it easier for them? Still, the answer to this is not that simple.
The process of adaptation when moving to Los Angeles (or any other place) is individual and conditioned by numerous factors. And the very course of adjustment depends on the child’s characteristics, age, health condition, and the family atmosphere in which the child lives. In general, children who are strong and do not have major health problems, children who live in family communities, children whose parents have a positive attitude towards play, etc., adapt more easily.
Types of adaptation
There are three basic types of adaptation: easy adaptation, medium adaptation, and difficult adaptation.
Easy adaptation is a normal reaction to a change in the environment of children who have established a safe and stable emotional connection with their parents. With such children, reactions and changes in behavior pass within 10-15 days of moving, and the child quickly gets used to the new environment and looks forward to coming home.
Medium adaptation applies to children whose changes in behavior are extended to one month from the relocation.
Difficult adaptation is usually very rare in practice. It refers to children who may experience persistent and long-lasting reactions and behavioral disorders, which last for several months. There are several unfavorable factors that prolong the period of adaptation, such as frequent parent absences from home, unfavorable family conditions, negative attitudes of parents towards relocation, etc.
What are some of the most common reactions?
It should be noted that the largest number of children go through the process of adaptation without major problems. The truth is that only a small number of children go through a more difficult form of adaptation. Some children are prone to physiological reactions: refusal to eat or sleep, their immune system is lower and they have frequent colds, etc.
One of the possible reactions is the so-called regression. In this case, the child develops forms of behavior characteristic of some of the previous stages in development. It can be: sucking a finger, urinating in bed, looking for a diaper, etc. All of these behaviors are common during the adaptation period. It will gradually disappear when the child adapts to the new environment and establishes strong emotional relationships with your new home.
Here’s what you can do to help your kids adapt faster:
- Talk about the relocation in advance – so before you move. You can even show your kids your new home or walk to your new neighborhood.
- Try to stick to your old routines. The trick is to gradually harmonize the house rhythm with them (sleeping, staying outdoors, meals).
- Plan to be away from work while the child is in the phase of adaptation.
- Allow your children to take their favorite toy with them before you hire packing services.
- Show your children that you love them even when they don’t adapt as quickly as you want.
- Talk to your children about others: children they will meet, about toys, etc. In general, tell them about all the exciting things that can happen with relocation.
- Explain why you had to move and what that means so you can help your kids adjust to a new home faster.
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