How to Help Kids Adjust to Relocation: 5 Tips for Discussing the Move with Children

How to Talk to Children About Relocation

Many parents face this moment and are unsure of what to say and how to say it. Here are some tips to help you share the news in a way that maintains your parental leadership, conveys confidence, and allows space for your children’s emotions:

1. Share the news during a moment of connection and calm. Sit down together, speak to them simply and on their level.It’s important to tell them before they hear it from family members or at school.Give them enough time to process and adjust to the transition, as well as sufficient time to say their goodbyes.

2. Talk about the new place and emphasize what will remain the same. Often, to create excitement and anticipation, we focus on all the new and wonderful things awaiting us in the new location, and that’s perfectly natural. However, for children, a sense of stability and security is crucial.I recommend mentioning the things that will be similar or the same in the new place—like which toys they’ll bring, the food you’ll prepare there, what the playground will be like, the school they’ll attend, or the house you’ll live in.Highlighting similarities can help them feel more secure.

3. Allow space for difficult emotions and don’t try to diminish them. When children feel very sad, scared, or resistant to the move, it can trigger guilt in us as parents. Naturally, we want to ease their pain by highlighting all the positives—how exciting, fun, and new it will be! And that’s true. But at this stage, children need space to feel sad, scared, or confused.Acknowledge their feelings, support them, and reassure them that it’s okay to feel this way and that these feelings will eventually change.The grieving process (which includes anger, resistance, and sadness) is a significant part of children’s adjustment to the change.

4. Strengthen your role as their anchor. Invest in your connection with them even more than before. Help your children feel that you are stable and confident in your relationship with them. Be their safe space to unload, recharge, and grow stronger.If you find it challenging to provide this because you yourself are overwhelmed, consider seeking guidance for yourself.

5. Use playfulness and imagination. The best way to connect with children and support them is through play. During stressful or challenging moments (such as flights, moving days, or errands), prepare a game, a story framework, or small puppets in advance to help your children pass the time and process their emotions simultaneously.
   

   

   
   
   
   

   ֍ PRO TIP ֍

   
   

   ⌂ Show them pictures of the new house if you have any.

   
   

   ⌂ Explore the new street, city, or local playgrounds together on Google Street View.