Moving with little children

Moving is a stressful activity but especially for young children.  They know something is up.  You might have even told them what's going on but they don't really understand.  They feel your stress as you make preparations to move to a new house and/or city.  The only way they know to handle their own stress is to cry or cling or behave in other ways that don't really help the situation.

There are a few things you can do to lessen the impact on the family.

1. Try as much as possible to maintain your children's regular routine - before, during and after the move.
2. Make and post a countdown calendar so they can see how long it will be until the big day.
3. Regularly tell them what is going on, in simple terms they can understand.
4. Be positive and upbeat, regardless of what you're feeling inside.
5. When packing, pack their bedroom last and unpack their bedroom first.  Keep things as much like their old room as possible...especially at first.
6. When packing their room, pack one box of their most favorite belongings and mark it clearly that it is to be the very last box on the truck.  Make sure your kids get to open their box as soon as you move in.
7. At your new house, give your kids the royal tour and talk about all the fun things you're going to do at your new home and in the new neighborhood.
8. Give them time to readjust. 
9. Remember that a move is temporary.  You will all settle in soon.

Most likely, you and your family will move more than once while your children are growing up.  It doesn't have to be a negative experience.  Your kids will adjust and your family will have new experiences and new adventures.  Give it time.