Before the move Keep a diary A diary is a great way to keep track of how you are feeling about things during the move. Keep writing everything that comes to mind, such as how you feel about leaving behind your old school and friends. Questions Keep a list of every single question you can think of that comes to mind about the move. Make a note of any concerns you may have and anything that you are unsure of. Discuss your list with your parents. Keeping in touch Start collecting all your friends’ details to put into an address book. You can ask them for their birthdays, instant messenger (IM) & email addresses, phone numbers and even some photos to put into an album. A scrapbook is a fun option, with a page dedicated to each friend. Keep their details with you during the move so that you can get in touch with your friends as soon as you move to your new home. Say goodbye A great way to say goodbye to all your friends is to find out from your parents if you can throw a farewell party. A party is a brilliant way to say your goodbyes to everyone and for them to wish you well in your new home. If you have a scrapbook you can get your friends to write you a message to take with you. Design your new room Spend some time planning the décor of your new bedroom. You might like to think of some funky use of colour, some cool pictures and new ways to display your stuff. Keep working on it till you are happy so that you can put your plan into action as soon as you reach your new home. Investigate the new neighbourhood / country Find out as much as you can about your new neighbourhood / country. You’ll want to know all the fun things to do so that you don’t waste any time when you get there. If you belong to any activity clubs or sporting teams you can research what options you will have in your new city. If you’re moving to a new country there might be places of interest that you might like to visit. Keep your list handy so that you can start making use of it as soon as you have moved. The Big Move Packing your boxes This is a great chance for you to clean out the closet and give away a bunch of stuff you don’t want or need anymore. Take some time to think about how you would like to pack your things. If your boxes are well organised it will make unpacking a lot easier. Lend a hand You will score big points with your parents if you help them as much as you can during the move. Ask them to draw up a To-Do list for you and use it to tick off completed tasks. Amusement pack Pack enough things to keep you busy during the move such as books, puzzles, games and CD’s. This is a great chance to work on your scrap book or diary. Make sure that you can carry your bag easily and that it’s not too heavy. After the move Time to decorate Now you can have a look at the design that you created for your new bedroom and put it into action! Touch base Send an email or an instant message (IM) to your friends to update them on how the move went and any exciting developments that happened along the way. If you have a digital camera, send them some photos of your new home and city. There are some great free websites that you can use to create your own page, upload your photos and write messages for your friends. Trip into town Now that you are in your new home its time to explore your new area. Don’t forget to refer to all the research you did before the move. Go and check out the local shopping centre, movies, skate park or other fun stuff. Don’t forget to visit the activity clubs and sports teams you are interested in and find out about joining. Copyright© 2007 Stuttaford Van Lines. All rights reserved