Moving with Children
Handle with Care!
Did you know that moving is one of the top five causes of stress? Helping
your children cope with stress during and after the sale of your home will
help alleviate some your own stress as well.
Here are some tips from the experts to help the transition go smoothly for
your kids:
* A child should be informed of a move shortly after the decision has been
made, according to Shari Steiner, co-author of the "Steiner's Complete
How-To-Move Handbook." Discussing the possibility of a move only causes
unnecessary anxiety.
* To minimize the stress that children feel when moving, parents should get
children involved in their favorite activity--whether it be a sport,
academics or drama--before the move actually occurs. Children can do
research on the Internet to find out about events, teams and other
interesting facts about their new area.
* Give children a chance to become familiar with the new area before moving.
Taking a vacation or short trip to the area lets children get to know their
new environment ahead of time.
* Allow children to stay with relatives or friends during the actual packing
and loading. Most children don't react well to seeing their possessions
packed into boxes and taken away.
Don't pack your child's security blanket or other favorite item. It should
travel with your child.
Many experts recommend moving in the middle of the school year to allow
children to make new friends right away.
