The Wheels On The Moving Truck Go Round And Round...

Moving is never easy and a LOT of work, it can also be a very emotional experience, especially if you have children. If you are moving to a new city, state, or even a new country, your children are in for some big changes. Here are some suggestions for making the transition a little easier for you and your child.

1. Let your children know as soon as possible about the move. Talk through the process and let them know about the changes that will come (new school, new church, new friends, etc.).  Let your children ask questions and answer them honestly.
2. Take a tour.  If time allows, arrange a time for you and your children to walk through the new house before you move. Let them pick out their bedroom and help visualize where furniture is going to go.  Also along the tour lines - make an appointment with your child's school and walk through - see if you can meet the teacher.
3. Go Shopping! Go shopping with your children to pick out new paint colors for their room, new sheets, accessories; let them personalize their new room.
4. Create Memories. Give your children disposable cameras and let them take pictures of the people, places, and things that they want to remember.  Help them put together a scrapbook of their memories.
5. Keep in touch. Help your children collect addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of their close friends and family so that they can write often.
6. Pack Last and Unpack First. Pack your children's things last (if you can help it), and unpack their room first. This will help them feel comfortable and more at home, and give them a familiar place to retreat to when things get to be too much.
7. Make it fun! Play games and find groups that your children can participate in and begin to make new friends. Drive around your new town and find stores, restaurants, attractions, etc., that you use to enjoy in your old town. Or, drive around and find new stores, restaurants, attractions, etc., that you want to make a point to check out with your family and start a "to do" list of places to see.

There are tons of other things that you can do to help your child adjust to a new place. If you would like more suggestions on moving with children, let me know!