Moving to a new home isn't always the most stress-free experience for children. Kids can get used to their routines at home, as well as their neighborhood parks, friends, and school.

Even if you plan to move during the summer to make things easier for school zone changes and temporary disruption to routines, it can take some time for kids to warm up to and get excited for the move.

If you want to find ways to keep the transition smooth, there are some best practices to prepare for the move that will make it all the easier on the children. Here are 6 helpful tips to prep kids for a move and a new school.

Explore the Area Before the Move

Children can get very attached to their neighborhood, and moving to a new one can be a bit scary sometimes. You may encounter hesitance or resistance. To make the transition a bit more seamless and positive, visiting the area a few times before the actual move-in day is a good idea. The kids will acquaint themselves with the parks, greenspaces, stores, and ice cream shops. They'll get to see where the library is and where they can bike, as well as get a clear understanding of how the new home relates to the rest of the area.

Visit the New School Area in Advance

Well before the start of school, and maybe even before you move, plan to visit the school with the kids so they can see what it looks like, how to get there, and even what the playground looks like. You can even try to drive there together and then get out to look around. But you can also try to walk or bike to the new school so the children gain a clear understanding of how to get there from the home you're moving into.

Pack an Essentials Box to Open on Arrival

While you will want to aim to set up and unpack the kids' bedrooms first, you may not get the chance to complete it if things go a bit awry during the day of the move. For that reason, have the children pack a box of their favorite items that they use each day, their comfort toys, and preferred clothing and bedding. That way, if there's no time for anything else before bedtime the day you move in, they won't have to go too long without their favorite sweater, teddy bear, or blanket.

Keep Your Routine

Don't change up the kids' schedule before, during, and after the move. Try to keep, at a minimum, bedtime and wake-up to the same hours as they were in the previous house. Consider as well meal times, bath times, and other regular routines. That could be your Sunday morning rituals, your Friday board game nights or your Taco Tuesdays. Whatever you were doing at the old home, try to keep the schedule as similar as possible to how time will be organized at the new place.

Involve Kids in the Move

Even if you plan things perfectly and do your best to transition the family in advance, it can still be a stressful time for the kids. The best thing you can do to alleviate the pressures is to allow the children an opportunity to be involved in the move every step of the way. From visiting the home and making the offer to buying the cardboard boxes and packing tape, if they get to be involved throughout the process, it starts to feel less foreign and more like the new home is already a part of their routine well before move-in day.

Courtney Edgar is a lifestyle journalist and copywriter based in Montreal. Her work has been published in HuffPost, Pop Sugar, Atlas Obscura, Explore Mag, and more.