Thursday, June 18, 2009

Moving with Kids: Breaking the News


It's the end of the school year, and many families choose this time to move to a new home, giving children the chance to close out the year before moving on to a new school. If you are planning a move with school-age children, here are some tips for breaking the news:


  • Talk to your kids about each phase of the moving process. They will be less likely to feel anxious about the move if they are informed and know that you care about their feelings too.

  • Get them excited about the details of the new home that will matter to them. Will they be getting their own room, or a new backyard? Will there be fun things to do nearby? Remember, if parents are anxious, kids will pick up on that and feel anxious too.

  • Have them create an address book and/or a scrapbook to help them keep in touch with their old friends.

  • Let them host a farewell party. This will help them accept that the move is really happening and leave them with warm memories.

  • Read children's books about moving.

  • On moving day, let children know it's ok to feel sad, but also reassure them that you are going through the transition as a family.

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