Children have a magnificent sense of adventure. If you create an atmosphere of discovery around your move, you will have made a huge leap towards making it a success. Leaving behind old friends and all that is familiar can be stressful for your child. If the move process is managed well it can be a great deal of fun for the whole family. Some helpful tips: Communicate the move to your children from the onset The best way to get the ball rolling is to tell your kids about the planned move as early as possible. Ultimately, you would like to avoid the news reaching them by accident and coming as a surprise. An informed child feels more secure and creates a space for welcoming change. Positive reinforcement Your child will look to you to gauge how to feel about the move. Make sure they understand why they are moving and show them that you are enthusiastic. Use positive reinforcement to ensure they have no reservations. It’s a good idea to point out how the move will benefit the whole family. Encourage questions Keep discussions around the move flowing. Encourage your children to ask questions even if you are not always able to provide them with all the answers. Keep them involved Kids love to get involved! Allocate them their own little set of tasks and include them in some of the decision-making. Keeping in touch Provide your child with an address book that will allow them to collect the contact details of their old friends. A scrapbook filled with memories and a photo album are also fantastic tools for helping your child stay connected to the friends that they are leaving behind. Email provides a cost effective tool for staying in daily contact. A goodie bag Put together a goodie bag of their favourite things to keep with you during the move. You can include items such as their favourite toys, books and CDs that will keep them occupied during the move and while you are waiting for your belongings to arrive. Your new home Photos or a video of their new home are also recommended to help your child create a picture in their minds of where they will be living. It’s a great idea to help them plan their new bedroom. You can help them decorate their new room by choosing the colour and planning where they will put all their things. Learn about your new destination Take the time to find out about your new destination with your child. Visit your local library or make use of the internet to find information that will be of interest. Make a list of fun and exciting things to do and see when you get there. Explore your new surroundings Once you have moved to your new destination, take the time to explore your new surroundings as a family. Your child’s new school Prior to their first day, it is a good idea to take your child to visit their new school and meet their new teachers. Let them spend a few moments in the playground so that they can get a feel for the children they will be interacting with. This exercise will give them a sense of familiarity with their new school and make their first day less daunting. Copyright© 2007 Stuttaford Van Lines. All rights reserved