Kids And Moving: How to reduce The Trauma of Relocating

Kids can get lost in the shuffle during a relocation. Parents are, understandably, involved in the details of the move— perhaps selling one home and buying another, determining what to pack and what to discard arranging fur the transfer of medical and school records, and countless other responsibilities that go along with moving the family to a new town.
Even when it seems you have less time that, ever, it’s important to cane out time to give children the emotional support they need during a time of transitions. Here are some strategies:
Explain The ABC’s Of Moving
One of the best ways to overcome children’s fears is open communication from die start. Young children have no idea what it means to move. Let them know why, when and where you are moving as soon as your decision is final. It’s helpful to take them on a visual tour of the new area. When you break the news about the move, have on hand maps, brochures, videos, photographs and information about the new area. Tell them about recreation areas, places of special interest to children schools, etc. If possible, bring children along on the house- hunting trip or on a pre-move visit so they can see what to expect. Plan a school visit. If a pre—move visit with children is not possible, take photos of the new home, neighborhood, school, or playground to show then, upon your return.
Stay Upbeat
Children tend to mirror their parents’ emotions. If you are happy, they’ll be happy. Make sure you schedule family time, such as a walk or dinner out with the family so the kids don’t feel forgotten.
Listen carefully to their concerns and respond honestly. Negative reactions to moving are common. Accept the negative feelings and he honest about any doubts you are having, too, while reassuring the child everything will turn out all right. They may he calmed by realizing how "normal" a part of life moving is. Look fur age-appropriate hooks on moving in the library or bookstore and share then, with your children.
Involve Them In Planning And Packing Their Stuff
To a small child, the world is made up of possessions. It’s "my house, my yard, my tree, my room, my bed, my teddy bear." Assure children most of their world is moving, too.
Have children pack as much of their own stuff as possible — even preschoolers can help. Give them special boxes to pack favorite things in. Label the boxes, "Jamie’s stuff." Remind them, when the family gets to the new home, all their things in boxes will go right into their new rooms. Also, enlist their help in making decisions about what to pack and what to donate or discard. Talk about how they’d like their new room decorated.
Saying Good-Bye
Children, like adults, need closure. Help them prepare to move by creating a memory book. Take pictures of friends, favorite places, family members, and favorite rooms of your home. Help your children create a scrapbook to rewind them of the "old" home. Include addresses and phone numbers of friends in the book.
Together, Plan a going-away’ party. Make cards with the address of the new borne to hand out to friends at the party. Invite them to visit when they can. Reassure your children they will be able to call their old friends, even exchange letters, e-nail or home videos. If visits to the old home town will be possible, let your children know they’ll be able to visit their old friends.

When You First Get There
When the family reaches the new home, set up the children’s rooms right off the bat. Open the cartons with their stuff and make them feel at home before they have a chance to feel "lost."
Try to keep their schedules as normal as possible. That way, you’ll help give then, the extra security they need ii’ the new surroundings. Be available at mealtime, bedtime or (if possible) after school to listen and to share in your child’s new experiences.
To help them adapt quickly, call on new neighbors to find other children who live nearby. Invite new friends and neighbors to visit. Consider signing up for one or two activities — sports or lesson’s to help your child meet new friends and continue special interests. Look to after-school sports or clubs, community centers, religious activities, local parks programs, etc. If the new school is dramatically different from the old school, immediately seek academic tutoring and give your child much encouragement and praise. Maintain family time. Explore the new area and include points of special interest to your children.
Relax!
Kids are fairly resilient, even if at first it seems they’ll never forgive you for moving. In time, most likely they will, often even sooner than you’d expect. Moving jitters may cause behavior changes which will, after a while, disappear as children find a new sense of "home." Be open to the idea of getting professional help, however, if you feel it’s needed.
It’s not always easy for parents, themselves under moving stress, to respond with infinite patience and warmth. But experience shows the best efforts arc rewarded with children who are contented in their new home certainly one of the relocation goals of all parents.