As a general rule, all
these tips deal with a few simple themes:
- communicate with your
child
- reassure your
child
- help them be part of the process
without overwhelming them
Here are 9 tips on making the transition for younger
kids easier:
1. Be sure to talk to your
kids about moving, what the new place will be look, and what
they should expect. Trying to keep it a secret is almost never a good
idea.
2. Be
reassuring- kids will pick up quickly on the fact that
everyone is feeling the stress of the upcoming move. Be honest in
telling kids that things will be a bit stressful and "up in the air"
for a short period of time, but that things will settle down and feel
normal again after the move. Remind them of things that won't be
changing, whether that involves possessions, daily activities, family
members, etc.
3. Let kids participate in age-appropriate activities prior
to Moving Day, whether that's marking boxes, packing their toys or
stuffed animals, organizing their belongings, etc.
4. Get a children's book on moving for smaller kids. Consider
“The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day.”
5. If appropriate,
let children pick their room in the
place.
6. If possible, let kids pick a decoration (poster, light switch, name banner,
etc.) for their new room. If that doesn't work, let them pick from two
or three different paint colors that you pick out so that they "get a
vote."
7. Pack a kid's sized suitcase and let each child pick out a
special toy to keep with them and a special outfit to wear on "new home
day."
8. If the child has a
special dish or cup, include it in the kitchen
"Open Me First" box so familiar items await them at their new
place.
9. Consider
unpacking the kids' rooms first, or at least
their "Open Me First" boxes to help them settle in.
Following these steps doesn't guarantee that small
children won't be upset out the move, but it should help minimize how
deep and how long the upset lasts. :-)
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