Moving With Kids

 Proper Planning is needed in any move, especially with children

 It is very important to remember that many children, if not all, are very much routine based and dependent.  Therefore it is critical that your children are aware of the upcoming move, when it is going happen and their involvement and how they can help feel important tothe family. Most moves are preplanned and give the parents some window of time to explain to their children that they are moving and why.  This is one of the most important times for communication between a parent and a child, as it will begin to lay the groundwork for making the move less stressful for all.  The more information the child has up front, the better off they are going to be throughout the entire move process.

Before the Move: Tell your child about your up coming move as soon as possible.  This will allow them to ask as many questions as possible and give you the opportunity to help them understand about the move without the stress as if the move were next week or tomorrow.  Encourage your children to talk about their move with family members, friends and teachers.  They will be asked many questions about their move that they may not have thought of on their own.  It will also give your child the chance to explain their move, the reason for it and if they are excited, sad or indifferent.  You will gain great insight about your child’s feelings as they talk about their move and you may acquire important insight from another family member or teacher.  Encourage your child to make a list of phone numbers and addresses of people they would like to keep in contact with.  Young children need to be informed that just because you are moving away, you can still call and keep in contact.  Contact the local Chamber of Commerce in your new neighborhood.  They will be able to provide a list of parks, museums, malls, sports teams, music halls etc. that your child may find interesting.  It is important for them to understand that where you are moving has something for them to enjoy.Always call ahead to the schools in your new district to determine where your children will be attending.  What is the process for entering into a school of choice and how well is that school rated?  Make an appointment with the principal, guidance counselor and grade related teachers to help your child feel comfortable with their new school.  Ask if they have a welcoming committee. 

During the Move

Write your move plan down with the assistance of your children.  It is easier for them to participate in the move if they feel as thoug they had a part in its creation.  Always keep a positive attitude and portray that attitude towards your children.  Let them know ahead of time that not everything will be able to be packed absolutely perfectly.  Mistakes and errors will occur on all moves and it is ok for those incidents to happen.  Allow them to help pack their belongings and then mark their boxes with crayons or markers.Keep your family life as normal as possible even if furniture has been moved, sold or stored and boxes occupy one portion of your house.  Keep meals at the same time and allow your children to do their homework in a quiet and spacious setting. Make sure you that you have all the essentials.  Keep your child’s most prized belongings close to them at all times for comfort.  Especially keep track of your child’s prescriptions and medical needs if they have any.  If you are moving out of town away from your child’s doctor, ask for a reference in your new town and an extra prescription of your child’s medication to take with you until you are settled and can find a new pharmacy and doctor.  Have a party or moving goodbye day for your child to see all friends and important people in their life.  Involve an arts and crafts day for younger children to build a collage or poster of pictures with friends, drawings and goodbye notes.

 After the Move

Unpack the essentials and do not overwhelm your children, especially the younger ones, with unpacking everything in one night, weekend or week.  Allow time for family fun and for each member to explore their surroundings and become comfortable. Help your children meet new children and friends.  A new bike, dress, toy etc may be what your child needs to divert their attention away from the move and help them relax.  Encourage them as much as possible to get outside of the house and be a child.  Have a pizza party with children in the neighborhood.  Explore any local parks, beaches and museums. Interact with your child as much as possible to determine if they have acclimated to their environment and they are doing well.  If they seem distant, unable to make friends or have had grades drop, contact their school and speak with their teachers and guidance counselors.  You may also want to contact their local physician.Above, list to them and interact with them as much as possible.  Not every child is the same and it will take some longer for some to adapt than others