Moving your Family

This article is part of a series bought to you by ALLSTORAGE SELF STORAGE. For drive-up easy storage at 1/4 city prices; in Warwick contact Harcourts Real Estate Phone 07 4661 3999; Stanthorpe contact Cec Mann & Co. 07 4681 4444; Glen Innes contact Robyn Willis Real Estate. (02_ 67321855. Or visit www.allstorage.com.au. We pride ourselves on providing quality, value-for-money storage.

MOVING YOUR FAMILY
If you read our previous articles you might be thinking about the social aspect of moving a young family. Both Warwick and Stanthorpe areas cater well for children with good child care facilities and lots of parks and sports grounds, but if you have one of those jobs with successive moves, you might want to think through the affect on young children. Having had to make quite a few moves for carer reasons, I can vouch that adults don’t handle it too well either. Luckily when you’re moving into Stanthorpe with its village feel and Warwick as a rural centre, you will find people are far more friendly and more interested in helping you. Actually for the oldies, the Stanthorpe Golf Club is worth a hit – say hello to Bob Watts the Club’s president – I doubt you’ll meet a nicer fellow and find a more welcoming Club.


When to Move School Age Kids
• If your kids are school age it can be tempting to plan your move for the school holidays. This can actually make things harder for your kids. Because school is the first place kids can be assured of making friends, moving on the school holidays places your child in unfamiliar surroundings at a time when their chances of making friends are low.
• To make things worse, when school resumes, your child will be a stranger on the first day hustle and bustle.
• Moving during the school year allows your kids to go from one social setting to another and when your child is the only new person, the teacher and the other kids will be keen to show him or her special attention.
Does Age Make a Difference?
• Generally, the younger the child, the better they will cope with moving home. Although infants and young children may be confused, try to explain to them what's happening and make it like an adventure.
• What worries school age kids most is the question of how easily they will fit in and make friends at their new school and this why teenagers are generally more resistant to the idea of moving home because their friends provide them with a sense of identity.

Before the Move
• When you start making plans for your move, it's important to focus on what your kids can look forward to.
• Remember, if you see your move as an exciting adventure, your kids will be enthusiastic too.
• A great way to do this is to take them with you on house-hunting adventures. If it's simply not practical to have them tagging along, bring back pictures of hot prospects you're considering and then once you've found a new home, take photos of local places of interest.
Communication is the Key
• It's important that your family spend time chatting about the move. Before and during your move, encourage your kids to voice their uncertainties.
• If you're honest, you're probably feeling a little hesitant too, no matter how promising your new situation is likely to be, so after your move, time sitting together and listening to each other's stories will be the best way to find out how everyone is coping with the change.
Getting the Kids Involved

It's natural that your kids will want to feel part of what's going on. Some examples of ways to involve your kids include:
• Asking them to help organise your garage sale by making colourful posters to stick up around the neighbourhood
• Helping them choose a small number of toys to keep with them on moving day and letting them pack and label a few of their own boxes
• Giving them a special job to take care of on move day so they'll feel they're making a valuable contribution.
• Letting them decide how their new rooms will be arranged and decorated.
What about Childcare?
• You'll no doubt be offered a lot of conflicting advice whether you should keep your kids with you on move day, or arrange childcare, so don't forget that you are the best judge of what's right for your kids.
Saying Goodbye
• It's important that your kids have the opportunity to say good-bye to the family members and friends they're leaving behind, so encourage them to exchange contact details. These days, it's easy to keep in touch as pen pals via email.
Settling In

Realise that there is a grieving period for children than can last for weeks, or even months. There are a few simple things you can do to make moving easier for your kids, such as
• Explore your new neighbourhood together
• Wander around the new school together to help them find their bearings
• Go with your kids on their route to school until they want to travel by themselves
• Sign them up for after school activities where they can make new friends with similar interests
• Encourage them to keep in touch with old friends.

Keeping an Eye Out for Early Warning Signs
• It's always hard giving up the known for the unknown. Even the most well-adjusted child can have difficulty coping with moving home.
• It's important to pick up on early warning signs that your child may need extra help adjusting.

Here's some things to watch out for
• Withdrawn behaviour
• Loss of appetite
• Problems sleeping, or regular nightmares
• Outbursts of anger or tears
• Reluctance to stray far from the house or family
• Difficulty making new friends
More Handy Hints for Moving Kids
• There are children's books that help kids come to terms with an upcoming move, and cope with some of the feelings they may be experiencing.
• If you've got young children, it's important to survey your new home for possible danger areas, and kiddie proof them.
• The sooner you teach your kids your new address and contact details, the better.


Good luck! We hope you make a successful move to our region and look forward to meeting your storage needs.☺