In the midst of all the unpacking and settling in, you need to help your children cope with the new home and get settled in themselves.

Whether you’re moving with your children as the legal parent or solidifying your parental rights through a second parent adoption process, there are things you can do to help your child cope with the move. As an adoptive parent, you want everything with your second parent adoption, to be perfect because kids who have been through any parental rights battle often have a hard time adjusting to their new home and school. Whether you’re the biological, legal parent, or the second parent who is adopting your partner’s child, you want your kid to adapt well. In this article, you’ll find a few tips to make that wish a reality.

Involve the kids in the new house.

One way to get your kids involved in the move and keep them excited is getting them involved in setting up their new home. Things like taking them on a walkthrough of the new house, letting them help you pack, and allowing them to choose which room they want to be theirs will go a long way towards getting them comfortable with the house before the big move.

For example, if you’re going to let the kids choose their own rooms, then go a step further and take them with you to choose a new bedroom set as well. Sure, your bedroom will have a king size mattress that you and your partner will choose, but your kid can still choose their own bed frame, twin mattress, and headboard. Letting them choose their own bedroom furniture is a great way to get them excited about living in their new home in their very own room.

A new long single mattress in a box will not only help them get involved in setting up their room, but the mattress will also ensure that they’re getting a great night’s sleep. Spring for a memory foam mattress and a new box spring, and they’ll sleep like the babies they are, then wake up refreshed and ready to meet the day with a smile.

Pack an essential box for each kid.

Whether you’re the adoptive parent or biological parent to a small child or a teenager, make sure that you pack an essential box for each child in your family. Better yet, let them fill their own essential box, so they get to choose what they want to take. This box should include their favorite things, whether it’s music, books, a stuffed bear, games, journals, or pictures. The point is to pack what makes them feel comfortable and secure. If it’s feasible, make sure that they take this box with them on moving day. This box should be put on their new bed and mattress to be opened first, as it will help them settle in that first night with their favorite things around them.

Unpack the children’s rooms first.

The first room you should unpack is the kitchen. You’ll unpack the basics that you’ll need for the first few days so you can feed your family, then move on from there. Unpacking the children’s rooms after the kitchen basics will go a long way towards helping them settle in. Have each child unpack their own stuff, with your help, of course, then talk about where they want everything to go and how they plan to organize their room. Common sense states that the faster a child’s room is unpacked, the easier and quicker it’ll be for them to settle into their room, and by extension, the new home.

Get back into a routine as soon as possible.

You’ve purchased new bedroom furniture and a memory foam mattress for the kids, you’ve helped them organize their rooms, now it’s time to get back into a routine as soon as you possibly can. The best way to do that is to do things the way you’ve always done them. For example, you might let the little ones stay up later than usual for the first couple of nights, but after that, it’s best to implement their regular bedtime.

Keep bedtime hours, playtime, and meals consistent. If your child is in one of the online charter schools in your area, then making sure they get back into their regular school routine is important as well. An online charter school should be treated just like a brick and mortar school when it comes to being on time and having a work routine.

These are just a few of the ways that you can help your child cope with a move and then settle into their new homes. Parenthood isn’t easy, whether you’re an adoptive parent or a biological parent, but you can ensure your littles are comfortable, happy, and feel secure in their new home with the tips above.