Moving can be a very stressful time for all family members-especially children. Everything that they once knew is about to change. Planning ahead can help make this time easier for your children. Use the checklist below to help you ease the stress on your children as you plan for the move.

As a Parent, I:

___ Realize that my children may or may not like moving.

___ Keep a positive attitude toward the move.

___ Know that all children are unique and adjust to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Involve my children in the packing process.

___ Make sure that my children's school and medical records are correct and complete and are sent to the new school, keeping a copy for my records.

___ Find education programs and resources for any special needs my children may have.

___ Help my children make plans to stay in touch with friends, neighbors, and family members.

___ Help them make a memory book of favorite things so they will remember their past.

___ Pack treat bags with snacks and favorite toys for the move.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to host a "moving party" with our friends and neighbors.

___ Read books about moving together.

___ Find information about the new community in maps, books, travel guides, Internet, etc.

___ Plan to do all we can to move everyone's things safely.

___ Turn challenges into adventures (have a picnic if the table is packed).

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving can be a very stressful time for all family members-especially children. Everything that they once knew is about to change. Planning ahead can help make this time easier for your children. Use the checklist below to help you ease the stress on your children as you plan for the move.

As a Parent, I:

___ Realize that my children may or may not like moving.

___ Keep a positive attitude toward the move.

___ Know that all children are unique and adjust to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Involve my children in the packing process.

___ Make sure that my children's school and medical records are correct and complete and are sent to the new school, keeping a copy for my records.

___ Find education programs and resources for any special needs my children may have.

___ Help my children make plans to stay in touch with friends, neighbors, and family members.

___ Help them make a memory book of favorite things so they will remember their past.

___ Pack treat bags with snacks and favorite toys for the move.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to host a "moving party" with our friends and neighbors.

___ Read books about moving together.

___ Find information about the new community in maps, books, travel guides, Internet, etc.

___ Plan to do all we can to move everyone's things safely.

___ Turn challenges into adventures (have a picnic if the table is packed).

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving can be a very stressful time for all family members-especially children. Everything that they once knew is about to change. Reassuring children during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for comforting your children as you prepare for the move.

As a Parent, I:

___ Give my children plenty of hugs and extra attention.

___ Explain the move so that my children can begin to accept it and get used to their feelings.

___ Let my children know that I appreciate how they may be feeling.

___ Encourage them to ask questions and am available whenever they need to talk.

___ Help them share their feelings about the move through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Tell them that other children have similar feelings about moving.

___ Involve my children in family decisions and give them a role in the move (taking care of siblings, pets, plants, etc.).

___ Remind them that their friends will still be friends, even after the move.

___ Remind my children that many things in the new place will be the same as in their old home, school, and neighborhood.

As a Family, We:

___ Talk about how things will be hectic during the move but will soon settle down.

___ View the move as a family adventure.

___ Discuss how we may all feel lonely at first but will soon make new friends.

___ Talk about how making new friends can be fun.

___ Look at moving as a special gift that can surprise and delight you.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving can be a very stressful time for all family members-especially children. Everything that they once knew is about to change. Reassuring children during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for comforting your children as you prepare for the move.

As a Parent, I:

___ Give my children plenty of hugs and extra attention.

___ Explain the move so that my children can begin to accept it and get used to their feelings.

___ Let my children know that I appreciate how they may be feeling.

___ Encourage them to ask questions and am available whenever they need to talk.

___ Help them share their feelings about the move through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Tell them that other children have similar feelings about moving.

___ Involve my children in family decisions and give them a role in the move (taking care of siblings, pets, plants, etc.).

___ Remind them that their friends will still be friends, even after the move.

___ Remind my children that many things in the new place will be the same as in their old home, school, and neighborhood.

As a Family, We:

___ Talk about how things will be hectic during the move but will soon settle down.

___ View the move as a family adventure.

___ Discuss how we may all feel lonely at first but will soon make new friends.

___ Talk about how making new friends can be fun.

___ Look at moving as a special gift that can surprise and delight you.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving is a stressful time for all family members - especially children. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children during this time.

As a Parent, I:

___ Explain to my children what will happen during the move.

___ Give them a special role during the move (taking care of pets, packing snacks, etc.).

___ Allow them to keep their favorite things with them (security blankets, special toys, etc.).

___ Keep a positive attitude about the move.

___ Realize that each child is unique and adjusts to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Know my children's behavior may show their true feelings (throwing tantrums, becoming withdrawn, etc.).

___ Encourage my children to ask questions and am available whenever they need to talk.

___ Help them share their feelings about moving through talk, play, drawings, etc.

As a Family, We:

___ Maintain routines as normal as possible so that everyone knows what to expect.

___ Talk about how moving is hectic but that things will soon be back to normal.

___ Plan breaks during the move for fun activities and treats (favorite restaurants, swimming, playing games, riding go-carts, etc.).

___ Celebrate the arrival at our new home with special activities (family hugs, lemonade toasts, etc.).

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving is a stressful time for all family members - especially children. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children during this time.

As a Parent, I:

___ Explain to my children what will happen during the move.

___ Give them a special role during the move (taking care of pets, packing snacks, etc.).

___ Allow them to keep their favorite things with them (security blankets, special toys, etc.).

___ Keep a positive attitude about the move.

___ Realize that each child is unique and adjusts to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Know my children's behavior may show their true feelings (throwing tantrums, becoming withdrawn, etc.).

___ Encourage my children to ask questions and am available whenever they need to talk.

___ Help them share their feelings about moving through talk, play, drawings, etc.

As a Family, We:

___ Maintain routines as normal as possible so that everyone knows what to expect.

___ Talk about how moving is hectic but that things will soon be back to normal.

___ Plan breaks during the move for fun activities and treats (favorite restaurants, swimming, playing games, riding go-carts, etc.).

___ Celebrate the arrival at our new home with special activities (family hugs, lemonade toasts, etc.).

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving into a new home requires lots of changes for all family members - especially children. Communicating with children during this time can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to guide you in comforting your children as they adjust to their new home and community.

As a Parent, I:

___ Am available whenever my children want to talk.

___ Explain what is happening so they know what to expect.

___ Listen closely and let them know I am interested in what they have to say.

___ Encourage my children to share their feelings about moving through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Encourage them to share feelings about their new school or daycare through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Praise them for the ways they have helped and adjusted to the move.

___ Remind my children that they are still the same as they were before the move, and the family is still the same family.

___ Recognize that each child is unique and adjusts to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Know that my children may express their feelings through certain behaviors (throwing tantrums, becoming withdrawn, acting tired, fussy, or angry, wetting the bed, etc.).

As a Family, We:

___ Realize that a successful move takes teamwork.

___ Talk about the many things in the new location that are like our old home, school, and neighborhood.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving into a new home requires lots of changes for all family members - especially children. Communicating with children during this time can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to guide you in comforting your children as they adjust to their new home and community.

As a Parent, I:

___ Am available whenever my children want to talk.

___ Explain what is happening so they know what to expect.

___ Listen closely and let them know I am interested in what they have to say.

___ Encourage my children to share their feelings about moving through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Encourage them to share feelings about their new school or daycare through talk, play, drawings, etc.

___ Praise them for the ways they have helped and adjusted to the move.

___ Remind my children that they are still the same as they were before the move, and the family is still the same family.

___ Recognize that each child is unique and adjusts to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Know that my children may express their feelings through certain behaviors (throwing tantrums, becoming withdrawn, acting tired, fussy, or angry, wetting the bed, etc.).

As a Family, We:

___ Realize that a successful move takes teamwork.

___ Talk about the many things in the new location that are like our old home, school, and neighborhood.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving into a new home requires lots of changes for all family members - especially children. Reassuring children during this time can help them build connections and make adjustments to their new home and community. Use the checklist below to guide you in helping your children adjust to their new home and community.

As a Parent, I:

___ Give my children plenty of hugs and extra attention.

___ Help my children stay in touch with old friends through letters, phone calls, and e-mails.

___ Allow my children to purchase a small "moving in" gift.

___ Allow them to decide how to arrange and decorate their new room.

___ Encourage them to make new friends by getting involved in clubs, sports, scouts, church groups, etc.

___ Help them learn about and adjust to their new school or daycare (school hours, calendars, lunches, bus schedules, "buddy" systems, etc.).

___ Help them meet and adjust to new teachers or daycare providers.

As a Family, We:

___ Visit nearby parks, libraries, museums, YMCAs, and other interesting places.

___ Introduce ourselves to neighbors and other community members.

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible so that our children feel safe during this time of change.

___ Continue family rituals and celebrations (Easter egg hunts, birthday traditions, holiday meals, etc.).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Moving into a new home requires lots of changes for all family members - especially children. Reassuring children during this time can help them build connections and make adjustments to their new home and community. Use the checklist below to guide you in helping your children adjust to their new home and community.

As a Parent, I:

___ Give my children plenty of hugs and extra attention.

___ Help my children stay in touch with old friends through letters, phone calls, and e-mails.

___ Allow my children to purchase a small "moving in" gift.

___ Allow them to decide how to arrange and decorate their new room.

___ Encourage them to make new friends by getting involved in clubs, sports, scouts, church groups, etc.

___ Help them learn about and adjust to their new school or daycare (school hours, calendars, lunches, bus schedules, "buddy" systems, etc.).

___ Help them meet and adjust to new teachers or daycare providers.

As a Family, We:

___ Visit nearby parks, libraries, museums, YMCAs, and other interesting places.

___ Introduce ourselves to neighbors and other community members.

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible so that our children feel safe during this time of change.

___ Continue family rituals and celebrations (Easter egg hunts, birthday traditions, holiday meals, etc.).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

All moves involve making changes. Moving to a new country may require even more changes. These adjustments may be stressful for all family members, especially for children, who may be unprepared for what is to come. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children prepare for life in a different country.

As a Parent, I:

___ Recognize that all children are unique and adjust to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Explain the move to my children so they can begin to accept it and get used to their feelings.

___ Keep a positive attitude about the move.

___ Get information about schools and daycare options in the new country.

___ Make sure that my children's school and medical records are correct and complete and are sent to the new school, keeping a copy for my records.

___ Help my children make plans to stay in touch with friends, neighbors, and family members.

___ Help them find a new home for any pet they must leave behind.

___ Help them decide what to pack and what to put in storage.

___ Allow them to have a kids' garage sale.

___ Encourage them to donate things that they no longer need to a local charity.

As a Family, We:

___ Recognize that we will all need to make many adjustments.

___ Plan to maintain family routines and rituals during this time of change.

___ Find information about the country in maps, books, magazines, travel guides, Internet, etc.

___ Discuss how the children in the new country dress, what they eat, and what customs they follow.

___ Prepare a new food that is popular in the country.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

All moves involve making changes. Moving to a new country may require even more changes. These adjustments may be stressful for all family members, especially for children, who may be unprepared for what is to come. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children prepare for life in a different country.

As a Parent, I:

___ Recognize that all children are unique and adjust to change at different rates and in different ways.

___ Explain the move to my children so they can begin to accept it and get used to their feelings.

___ Keep a positive attitude about the move.

___ Get information about schools and daycare options in the new country.

___ Make sure that my children's school and medical records are correct and complete and are sent to the new school, keeping a copy for my records.

___ Help my children make plans to stay in touch with friends, neighbors, and family members.

___ Help them find a new home for any pet they must leave behind.

___ Help them decide what to pack and what to put in storage.

___ Allow them to have a kids' garage sale.

___ Encourage them to donate things that they no longer need to a local charity.

As a Family, We:

___ Recognize that we will all need to make many adjustments.

___ Plan to maintain family routines and rituals during this time of change.

___ Find information about the country in maps, books, magazines, travel guides, Internet, etc.

___ Discuss how the children in the new country dress, what they eat, and what customs they follow.

___ Prepare a new food that is popular in the country.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.