Parenting Perspective 

Children rely heavily on consistent and familiar surroundings to feel safe. When a family is forced to move home because of rent-related stress, the sudden change can make a child feel completely uprooted. The loss of a familiar bedroom, friends next door, and daily routines strips away the comfort of predictability that is so crucial for a child’s emotional security. 

The Loss of Familiarity and Stability 

A home represents more than just a physical building to a child; it is the centre of their world. Uprooting them from this safe space can leave them feeling disoriented and anxious, as the very foundation of their daily life has been shaken. 

Emotional Distress and Social Disruption 

Moving often means leaving behind friends, schools, and a familiar community. For children, these relationships are central to their identity. This disruption can create profound feelings of loneliness and instability as they have to repeatedly adjust to new environments. The loss can make them fearful of forming new attachments, worried that everything could change again without warning. 

The Fear of Financial Insecurity 

Children quickly understand the reasons behind such a move. Knowing that the family had to leave because of financial difficulties can deepen their anxiety, making them feel that life is fragile. They may become overly cautious, associating the concept of home with instability rather than with safety. 

The Long-Term Effects on Well-being 

This experience of instability can have lasting effects. 

• Weakened Self-Confidence: Constant moves may make children feel that they have no control over their own lives. 

• Emotional Withdrawal: Some may avoid making new friends to protect themselves from the pain of repeated loss. 

• An Overemphasis on Wealth: Others may grow up equating financial success with stability, feeling insecure until they achieve it. 

Practical Guidance for Parents 

Parents can support their children by maintaining stable family routines, such as regular mealtimes and prayers, no matter where they live. Offering honest reassurance that a home is defined by love, not by walls, helps children to rebuild their sense of security. Framing the move as a new beginning rather than just a loss can also give children a sense of hope, protecting their well-being. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that while a physical home is a great blessing, true security comes from one’s connection to Allah. Financial instability and the loss of a home are profound tests that can either weaken a family’s spirit or strengthen their reliance on Him. For a child, this experience can become a powerful lesson in understanding where real stability lies. 

A Quranic Reminder on the Blessing of a Home 

The Quran reminds us that our homes are a gift from Allah, intended to be a source of peace and rest for the family. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Nahal (16), Verse 80: 

‘And Allah (Almighty) has designated for you, a resting place within your homes…’ 

This verse highlights that the purpose of a home is to provide peace and tranquillity (sakīnah). 

The Prophetic Teaching on True Wealth 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that true security is found in having one’s basic needs met, not in having a luxurious or permanent home. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2346, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever among you wakes up secure in his home, healthy in his body, and having his food for the day, it is as if the world has been gathered for him.’ 

This hadith reminds families that true security lies in gratitude for the core blessings of life, even when external conditions change. 

By showing children that while their physical home may change, Allah’s care for them never does, parents can nurture a deeper and more lasting sense of security. When children learn that stability comes from family love, faith, and gratitude, they can grow to be resilient and hopeful, despite the stress of moving.