Moving with children to Miami
Moving with children can be exciting, but is also stressful both for you and your kids. Sooner or later, many families face the life event of moving. This process can cause a lot of disorder for parents, but the experience can be even more traumatic for kids. They may not be a part of the decision to move and might not understand it. Kids can need some time and special attention during the transition. We are offering you some useful tips that will help you lessen the drama. Try these tips to make the process less stressful for everyone. If you follow our advice, you can have a smooth move to Miami with your kid.
How to get ready for the move with a kid
Once you’ve made the decision of moving to Miami
Situated at the southeastern tip of Florida, the city of Miami itself covers only about 36 square miles. This makes it one of the country’s most densely populated cities. The city has a lot to offer: mild climate, national parks, sports, pop culture, and more. Miami Beach is a highly diverse and multicultural city. People of Cuban descent make up around one third of the population. There are also large numbers of residents from Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. The city’s enormous growth has also been influenced by Americans relocating to the area for a variety of reasons. Miami is now one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
Why moving to Miami with your kid is a great choice?
Miami definitely isn’t famous for it, but it sure is a very good place to raise kids. Let us just list out a couple of benefits. First, there are several schools that have very good ratings, so you should not worry about that. Secondly, you should move to Miami, because not only you have insanely pretty beaches in your backyard, but you also have a vast number of parks, playgrounds, and courts. And if that isn’t enough, you can sing up your kids for this great Fit2Play Scholarship Fund, which is beneficial in so many ways. Moving with children to Miami sounds a bit better, doesn’t it? And when your kids need more intellectual stimulation, you can take them to Zoo Miami or Miami Seaquarium, where you can spend days exploring and learning.
How to tell your kid about the move
Most kids thrive on familiarity and routine. Moving with children to a big city like Miami can be a big shock for them, especially if you are moving from a smaller town or from another state. Children are typically not thrilled by such an event. In fact, they rarely enjoy this kind of change. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to ease the process. So as you consider relocating to Florida, put on the scales the benefits of that change against the comfort that established surroundings, school, and social life gives your kids. If your family has recently dealt with a major life change, like divorce or death, it is better to put off a move. If possible, give your kids time to adjust.
Maintain a positive attitude about the move. Your kids will adopt it
The decision to move is maybe out of your hands. It could be due to a job transfer or financial issues. However, even if you are not happy about the move, try to maintain a positive attitude about it. When moving with children to Miami, a parent’s attitudes can affect kids a lot, who may be looking for reassurance. Your attitude about moving and your willingness to let your children share in the experience will influence their feelings.
Discuss the relocation with your kids
No matter what are the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids to move to Miami is to talk about it. Try to give them as much information about the move as soon as you can. Answer their questions truthfully, and be prepared to both positive and negative reactions. Even if the move means an improvement in family life, kids don’t always understand that. They may be focused just on the terrifying perspectives of the change.
Involve kids in the planning
Involve your children, especially if they are older, in the selection process of the new home. Once you have narrowed the choices down to two or three house, get some feedback from the kids. If possible, take them to see the homes. If you are moving to another city, show them photos of each home, describe the neighborhoods and take a virtual tour online. Ask them about their opinion for each house. Let them know you will take their opinion into consideration when making the final decision. When you choose the house, keep them posted through the process. Have a little celebration once you know you have got the house.
Allow your kids to ask questions and make suggestions
Involve your child with picking out the house, or suggesting a color for a room. Let them feel like they are an important part of this process. Allow your child to ask questions, and express likes and dislikes about moving. This will help them adjust and will make the move to Miami a lot easier. Although it may not be always peaches and cream with kids, they know they can come to you. Especially if they are not adapting well by you letting them be part of the process. No doubt, there will be mixed emotions, whether they are a teenager or a child. Moving with children to Miami is not an easy process, especially with teens. They have to make new friends, fit in new school, adapt to a new neighborhood, etc.
Tips to ease moving to Miami for your kids
- Keep explanations clear and simple
- Use a story to explain the move, or use toy trucks and furniture to act it out
- When you pack your kid’s toys in boxes, make sure to explain that you are not throwing them away
- If your new home is nearby, go there to visit before the move and take a few toys over each time
- Hold off on getting rid of your child’s old bedroom furniture, which may provide a sense of comfort in the new house. It might even be a good idea to arrange furniture in a similar way in the new bedroom
- Avoid making other big changes during the move, like toilet training or advancing a kid to a bed from a crib
- Arrange for your kid to stay with a babysitter on moving day