Discover America’s Tips for Moving with Children

A move can be a very challenging and scary event to a child depending on how you approach the situation and the personality of the child.  Siblings may even react differently.  Each child is different and you may have to adjust these tips to fit the age and maturity of each child.

Here are some tips for including your children in the move and to help make it less stressful for everyone involved.

1. Discuss the move rationally with your children and allow them their feelings.  Do not get angry because they are not immediately accepting of the situation.
2. Tell them as soon as you are certain a move is happening depending on the age of the child, you know your children best.  Children are very perceptive and if something major is going on they will sense it and wonder what is happening; it is better most of the time if they know.
3. Give them time to develop their questions and concerns and meet with them again
4. If at all possible, take their pets. Assure your child their pets will be making the move with you or if not, assure them a suitable home will be procured for the pet and perhaps let them meet the new owner.  Allow them the time to say good-bye. Taking their pets is a security to them.  
5. Point out the good things coming as a result of the move, larger home, better job, closer to grandparents etc… and make it relatable to them
6. Make a calendar for their room with a countdown to the move, what will be happening on what day and plan some fun things to do along the way such as visit a favorite fun spot one last time, have ice cream with a friend, etc... 
7. Discuss their negative concerns and offer solutions or comfort to fit the concerns
8. Involve them, if possible, in some of the decisions being made about the move and selecting the new home
9. Have them write or contact the Chamber of Commerce to receive information about the new area.  If the children are old enough ask them to do Internet research on things to do in the area
10. If you travel to your new city prior to the move let them check out their new school and neighborhood, perhaps meet a new friend while you are there
11. Have them pack their own room making selections for items to donate to charity or sell at a garage sale.  The extra money they make can be used to decorate their new room
12. Buy them an address book to carry and get addresses or emails of their friends they want to stay in touch with 
13. As soon as a new address is known make up cards for the child to give out or send to their friends with the new address and perhaps an email address, maybe put the child’s photo on it or personalize them to each friend. 
14. If possible, plan an event for them to say good-bye to their friends.  This can be as simple as asking their teacher if you can bring in cookies to the class and give each of the students a card with your child’s new address on it
15. Encourage your child to talk about the move with you or a professional if you feel is it necessary, don’t let them “bottle up” their feelings or anxiety about the move 
16. Allow them to keep important things with them while traveling and let them chose the items 
17. Give them the time privately to say good-bye to their house, this may be the only house they have known
18. If possible, make the move a mini-vacation and stop at a fun or interesting spot or two along the way
19. Have fun with the move, try to not be short tempered, find time to laugh 
20. If they are old enough, allow them to unpack their boxes and start settling
21. Help the children settle in their rooms quickly, this will give them their space and their things around them
22. Visit the new school prior to the first day
23. Spend some time with the children getting to know the new area, where is the grocery store, the post office etc…
24. Plan a field trip or some adventure in the new area as a reward after the move.  This can be as simple as a day at the park. 
25. Talk about the move afterward, how are they feeling now and assure them it is going to be OK 

We sincerely hope these tips help you and you children through a stress free move to your new home. 

Best wishes for a safe and happy move!!