| How to Move With Children - section 3 This | | | | be ready for questions like, "Why can't dad |
| is the final section of a three-part, | | | | find a new job here?" Being honest is |
| in-debth article about moving with children | | | | important to maintain your child's confidence |
| and will provide more tips on how to make | | | | in you as a parent, so providing answers such |
| your child's move a pleasant and successful | | | | as, "Because that's what we have decided" |
| one. | | | | will not help ease their mind. |
| | | | |
| The age of your child should determine the | | | | Visual Tools Use as many tools as you can to |
| approach you take when explaining why you | | | | help them feel involved in the move. Maps are |
| have decided to move. Children that are a | | | | great for older children. Use the maps to |
| little older are more capable of grasping the | | | | show where your family is moving, and |
| importance of the move. They likely would be | | | | together, try to find the new school, grocery |
| more tolerant, for example, toward the fact | | | | store, parks, and other attractions. If you |
| that grandma is getting old and needs | | | | will be driving to your new home, draw the |
| attention. | | | | route together and plan the stops along the |
| | | | way. Remember, it should be an adventure, so |
| Younger children, however, may have | | | | don't just make it about getting there. |
| difficulties understanding the real reasons | | | | |
| for the move. For example, it may be hard to | | | | Pictures are better than maps when it comes |
| explain why dad's promotion cannot be turned | | | | to young children. Together you can flip |
| down. It is important, however, to provide | | | | through pictures of the new location so that |
| them with good reasons for the move to make | | | | they may relate to it more easily. If you |
| them an active part of it. | | | | will be moving to Los Angeles, for example, |
| | | | show them pictures of Universal Studios or |
| You should be prepared for a discussion and | | | | the Los Angeles Zoo. |