Tips to Help Children Deal With the Transition of Moving

A free article on Parenting

By: Laura Buckley

Now suddenly you realize that the hard work of moving to a new community is harder than you've ever expected. If the thought of relocating your kids and family to a whole new school system is producing too much anxiety for your children and family then I have some advise to help you and your family cope..

Right now you're probably at a place in this process of getting a great moving quote for the move, decided to move yourself with portable storage containers and you also arranged to have your car transported and relocated. Believe it or not in the scheme of things that's the easy part. Moving away from friends, familiar surroundings and being introduced to a new school is always a difficult situation and are probably new feelings small children aren't accustomed to feeling. So how do you deal with all this?

Well, the first thing is to not panic. The cause of stress can vary according to the age of the children. Younger children who are in the process of exploring their independence from their parents may regress to returning to a dependent relationship with their parents. Older children have more difficulty leaving close friends and peers and may repeatedly protest the move. Try to pay close attention to what your children have to say about the move and talk to them about their concerns, fears and issues.

Sometimes I found that if you are moving to a nearby city and if you have the ability to follow the moving van that is helpful to children to know that all their belongings won't be lost in the process and that their toys will be going with them. As a precautionary measure make you get proper moving insurance and liability coverage just in case there is an accident along the way.

Keep to your child's daily routines as closely as possible. I find that this is probably the most important tip or suggestion I cam make, talk openly with your children well before the move takes place. By explaining all of the details of the move and why the move must take place helps to put the move into perspective.

Once you have arrived in your new community, visit your child's school to speak with his or her counselor about orienting your child to the new school and school programs. Advise the counselor of any special interests of the child and ask for recommended clubs or programs.

When you are at your new home have your children create a pen-pal system for your children and their special friends with addressed, pre-stamped envelopes, stickers and markers. For older children, e-mail is a great way to keep in touch.

Discuss advantages of the new location with your children according to their interests, such as nearby amusement parks, museums, and zoos. Discuss decorating ideas for your child's new room including a memory door. Compile favorite photographs from family and friends from the location you are leaving and plan to decorate a door in your child's room with the photos.

Some of these tips may be helpful to you to make the relocation process easier for your children and family. Get information on your new town or city, including schools and children's programs, and discuss them with your children. If possible, take your children on a tour of your new town or city and home before the move to acquaint them with their new surroundings.