Helping kids survive and thrive during the sale of your home

Selling the family home is a major event — especially for those with young children. While statistics sometimes label moving as one of  “life’s most stressful situations,” it doesn’t have to be a traumatic time for your children. By adopting the following strategies along with some thoughtful planning, the sale of your home can be a rewarding experience for the entire family.

Maintain a positive attitude about your move. Families decide to put their homes on the market for a myriad of reasons. Whether you are seeking more space, making a career move or there has been a change in the family dynamic, find positive aspects to focus on. Make a conscious decision to look at all of the exciting opportunities and adventures that are ahead. As parents, you can set the tone and spirit of your move for your family. Your children look to you for both guidance and reassurance. Children pick up on cues from parents who are stressed — and may behave accordingly. By the same token, a positive attitude about the future can be contagious!

Keep your kiddos in the loop. Empower your children with enough information about the sale so that they feel included. Fear of the unknown can become magnified in children’s minds, so knowledge can be power. As a parent, make authoritative decisions for the family, but at the same time, try to allow opportunities for your children to add input — where appropriate. Give them a sense of control and allow them to feel like valued members of the family.

Encourage your children to maintain their connections to friends and the traditions of home. Arrange play dates or get-togethers with your children’s friends before you sell your home. Coordinate plans to stay in touch after the move. Plan future get-togethers in advance so your children will have social events to look forward to. If you are moving a distance, remind your children of the opportunity to call, text and email their buddies. Encourage your children to maintain those relationships, and be prepared to both facilitate and supervise those interactions on a regular basis.

Keep old traditions going, while creating new ones. While your daily life may seem to be in a temporary state of flux during a move, make a conscious effort to maintain family traditions. Continue with Taco Tuesday or family game night, even if you’re behind on your packing. Meanwhile, begin brainstorming with your children to create some new traditions you can all enjoy in the new place.

Be patient and understanding. Expect that there will be moments that you or your children may feel overwhelmed by selling your home. Take those moments in stride, and remember that the situation is only temporary — the goal will be a rewarding new adventure.

Finally, go easy on yourself during the sale of your home. Focus on the new life skills your children will have developed as a result of successfully making a big change. Whether it is a move across town or across the country — your children will gain the opportunity to become more flexible when it comes to life’s challenges. The skills they stand to gain during your move are skills they will be able to use throughout their lives.