Perched Pointers: Moving with Kids
Here are some tips I collected when I moved my 3-year-old to a new house last year. It was very hard at times, but these pointers really helped.
Take photos before the old house is packed up so that, after the move, he can see his old room, his old kitchen, his old bath, etc., whenever he misses the old house.
Don’t tell him about the move months in advance – that’s too much time for a little kid to feel anxious. Wait until a concrete moving date is set and back out a week or two.
Be prepared for an out-sized reaction to news of the move. (My son hit me in the face!) To lessen the blow, have at the ready one or two things to share that are super cool about the new house. My son loves remote controls and our new garage has two - this got him interested.
Before moving day, let him pick one new thing that will be waiting for him at the new house, e.g., new blanket, new toy, new sheets, new artwork
.Let him pack his own bag or box that he controls on moving day (i.e., it goes with him in the car rather than in the moving truck). Suggested contents: favorite blanket or animal, a loved book, best toy, sippy-cup, snack.
Pack his room last and let him see his things getting loaded onto the moving truck. At the new house, unpack his room first so that he is assured everything made it.
Say goodbye to the old house. Acknowledge the sadness. Tears = totally normal.
Let him decide how to set-up his new room (within reason).
Suggested readings: The Berenstain Bears Moving Day; A New Home for a Hermit Crab; The Best Nest (they don’t end up moving in this one, but it’s a really cute story about the house hunt)
