Ways to help your child with a big move

When you deliver the message that the family is moving, make sure your child knows that everyone in the family is moving as well – parents, siblings, pets as well as their things. This will help ease some of the anxiety.

Providing your child with as much information as you can about the new house will help them make some decisions before hand, such as where to place furniture and what color to paint their walls

Encourage your child to create an address book where addresses of friends, teachers, coaches, etc... can be kept. Encourage your child to stay in touch, and assure them that their friends are just a mouse-click or postage stamp away.

Help your child plan their goodbyes. As best you can, try to accommodate their wishes, within reason. Saying goodbye is an important step in the moving process.

Make time for saying goodbye to favorite haunts.  Ask your child to make a list, or make a list with the entire family, then set aside time each week to do at least one favorite thing.

On the big day, get a couple extra boxes, and have your child pack and unpack her stuffed animals. Take special care of the particular box for your child’s most treasured things – let them watch you pack it, put it in the car not the moving van, and unpack it first.You can also have your child draw on boxes that are already packed.

On the big day, you can also have them say “goodbye” to each room; this helps your child with a sense of closure.

Set up their room first.  It will be easier for them to settle and enjoy their room, leaving you free to unpack the rest of the house.

Find time to explore or take your child to a nearby park. Hopefully you can point out some of the landmarks the child saw in your preparatory photos.

Give them time to adjust and understand that their may be moments of sadness as they think of the past.