Helping Children Transition During a Move

Moving can be an exciting time for your family, and summer is the time when the majority of families choose to move. However, it can also be a sad and stressful time. Children may have different feelings about your family's move: scared about going to a new school, excited about a new home, sad about leaving old friends or angry with their parents about moving.

There are several things a parent can do to support their child through this transitional time.

The checklist below was developed by Jennie L. Moritz, Ph.D and Ann V. Deaton, Ph.D of Coping Kids to remind parents of important things to do before and after a move.

Before the Move:

• Tell older school-age children about the move as far in advance as possible.
  
• Share information about your new home, town and state with your child. Give them brochures and check out websites about your new town.
  
• Plan a goodbye/moving party for your child. Involve them in the planning. Help them get mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of friends and family they will be leaving.
  
• If possible, take your child to see their new home, town and neighborhood.
  
• Schedule a time to visit your child's new school, meet the principal, some teachers and future classmates ahead of time.
  
• During the move be sure to prepare some special comfort items for your child.
  

After the Move:

• Listen to your child's feeling about the move and offer extra support.
  
• Discuss activity options and sign your child up for activities such as sports, clubs and library programs.
  
• Take some exploratory trips into the community, to nearby parks, restaurants or a skating rink.
  
• Help your child decorate their new room to make it a special place in your new home.
  
• Encourage them to write, email or call friends and family to tell them about the new place.
  
• Get to know some of the other parents and find out about their activities and their children's interests.
  

By following these suggestions you can help make your child's transition to a new home and school less stressful and the move will be much easier for the entire family.