How to Make a Smooth Arrival at Your new Destination and Settle In Quickly

Arrival at the Destination and Settling In

On a Practical Level After countless packing sessions, goodbyes, and sometimes a long journey, you’ve arrived. Sometimes there’s already a house or apartment waiting, and other times the search is just beginning .It’s okay if everything isn’t perfectly organized and ready. What matters most is providing your children with a sense of security through you (even if you don’t feel entirely secure yet).Children don’t have a preconceived notion of how things “should” be—they simply experience what is happening now.

• You can involve your children in the house-hunting process, asking for their opinions and imagining together what each house could be like.

• Go grocery shopping together. Let them choose things they like and try out new items that seem interesting.

• Visit local playgrounds and play areas with them.

• Explore the neighborhood together and gather positive experiences as a family.

While the major decisions will ultimately be yours, children enjoy being part of discovering their new environment.

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Try to set up play areas for your child where they can process the challenges of the move. For example:

• Two small dollhouses and a family of dolls to symbolize the two homes and the transition between them.

• Toy airplanes and suitcases.

• A play kitchen with familiar and new foods.

What to Expect Emotionally Relocation is always a significant upheaval for children. Some will react quickly, while others may take more time. Either way, moments of emotional overwhelm, longing for the familiar, difficulty, frustration, and sadness are inevitable.

Since children (especially younger ones, but not exclusively) often cannot articulate the exact reason for their emotions, you may see crying, struggles, and meltdowns that don’t seem directly connected to the actual challenge.

• Allow them to cry and express anger. Avoid rushing to distract them with food, promises of something else, screens, or other diversions.

• Counterproductive responses, such as focusing on what’s fun and good about the new place, may inadvertently increase their resistance in such moments.

Creating a safe space for children to express their feelings, experience the moment, and validate their emotions helps them process the transition, adapt more effectively, and strengthens your connection with them.

Difficult feelings—both theirs and yours—are a natural part of the relocation process. They are not problems to solve but rather an expected stage of adjustment that needs to be acknowledged and embraced. Don’t fear this part—it’s a natural step in the journey toward settling in.

Try to release yourself from guilt if you can’t immediately resolve every difficulty. Show yourself the same compassion you extend to your children. You don’t need to be a perfect parent; it’s okay to take breaks and let your children navigate the process at their own pace. Not everything has to happen all at once.

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In moments of difficulty, you can say things like:

• "I see this is hard for you."

• "I can see how much effort you're putting in."

• "It really is frustrating."

• "It’s okay to miss the old place."

• "I’m here with you."

• "Moving to a new place is hard."

When we manage to simply be present with our children in their challenges, without trying to fix everything or erase their struggles, they feel understood and seen. This connection helps them adapt, grow stronger, and thrive more quickly.