Moving With Young Children: 15 Meaningful Tips for an Easy Transition

Moving to a new home—or even a new country—is a major life event. When moving with young children, it can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. However, involving your kids in the process and supporting them through the transition can make a world of difference in how they experience and adapt to the change.

Here are 15 practical strategies to help your children feel included, empowered, and supported during a move.

1. Involving Kids in Decisions

Including your children in decision-making gives them a sense of agency, helping to ease their anxieties about the unknown. Whether it’s choosing the color of their new bedroom or deciding which toys to pack, these small choices make them feel heard and valued. The ability to make even minor decisions can also foster their independence and collaboration skills, laying a foundation for them to handle other changes in life more confidently.

Ideas to Try:

Let them vote on color schemes or decorations for their new room. Our kid loved picking out wall stickers for his new room, he chose a glow in the dark space set.
Ask them to research fun activities or parks near your new home.
Have a family brainstorming session about what to pack for the journey.

2. Talk About the Move in Age-Appropriate Ways

How you discuss the move can significantly shape your child’s outlook. Younger children might benefit from simple, visual explanations about what to expect, while older kids may need detailed conversations about the move’s impact on their friendships, school life, or routines. By tailoring your approach to their age and maturity level, you can ensure that they feel informed and reassured about the changes ahead.

Tips:

Use books or videos about moving to introduce the topic. Our toddler was 2 when we first moved and this moving book “Goodbye House, Hello House” helped a lot.
Answer questions honestly while focusing on the positives.
Highlight exciting opportunities in the new location, like meeting new friends or exploring local attractions.

3. Create a Memory Book Together

A memory book can be both a fun and therapeutic activity. It provides a creative outlet for children to process their feelings about leaving their current home while creating a tangible keepsake to cherish. Working on a memory book together also offers opportunities to reflect on happy memories, fostering gratitude and optimism.

How to Do It:

Use a scrapbook or digital photo book to compile memories.
Include photos, drawings, or small mementos from your old home.
Add notes about favorite activities or special moments.

4. Give Your Child a Moving Day Role

Assigning your child a special task on moving day makes them feel included and less overwhelmed. This sense of responsibility can help shift their focus from anxiety to excitement, as they feel they are actively contributing to the family’s big adventure. It’s also a great way to teach them organizational skills in a fun and manageable way.

Ideas for Roles:

Make them the “official checklist manager” for their belongings.
Hand them a disposable camera to document the journey. It’s so fun to see things from a child’s perspective.

A young boy sits in a white box in front of a green dresser. He is being playful while packing. — “Helping” pack up his room

5. Keep Familiar Routines Intact

During the chaos of moving, sticking to familiar routines provides stability and comfort. Familiar routines act as an anchor, reassuring children that some aspects of their daily life will remain consistent, even as their environment changes. By prioritizing routine, you help create a sense of normalcy amid the upheaval.

Suggestions:

Pack a “comfort kit” with bedtime essentials like favorite blankets or books.
Schedule downtime for activities they enjoy, like a family storytime or a favorite TV show.
Create a “moving day” version of family traditions, like a pancake breakfast or a game night.

6. Plan a Farewell Celebration

A goodbye party allows children to say meaningful goodbyes and gain closure. Letting them help plan the event gives them a sense of control and makes the experience more personal. A farewell celebration can also be a way to acknowledge and honor the memories you’ve made as a family in your current home.

Ideas:

Set up a “memory wall” where friends can leave messages.
Take a group photo to include in your child’s memory book.

7. Normalize Their Feelings

Children may experience a wide range of emotions during a move—from excitement to sadness to fear. By normalizing these feelings, you reassure them that it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions about such a big change. Validating their feelings opens the door for honest conversations and helps them process their emotions in a healthy way. If your child feels homesick, you may find this post useful: How to Support A Homesick Child While Traveling or Living Overseas

Conversation Starters:

“What are you most excited about in our new home?”
“Is there anything making you nervous? Let’s talk about it.”
“What’s one thing you’ll always remember about this place?”

8. Help Them Stay Connected

Moving doesn’t mean saying goodbye forever. Teaching your child ways to maintain connections with old friends and familiar faces can provide a comforting sense of continuity. This helps them understand that moving is about adding to their life experience rather than erasing what came before.

Tips for Staying in Touch:

Set up regular video calls with close friends or family.
Encourage your child to send postcards, emails, or small care packages.
Help them create a farewell gift for their closest friends.

9. Explore Together After the Move

Exploring your new community as a family helps children feel more comfortable and excited about the change. By discovering new favorite spots together, you’re creating opportunities to bond and establish new family traditions. Helping children focus on the exciting aspects of the move rather than dwelling on what they’ve left behind, can help ease the transition to a new city.

Ideas to Explore:

Visit local parks, playgrounds, or libraries together.
Try regional foods or cultural activities as a family.
Make exploring fun with a scavenger hunt to discover new places.

10. Celebrate Their Resilience

Acknowledge your child’s bravery and adaptability during the move. Recognizing their efforts boosts their confidence and helps them feel proud of overcoming challenges. Celebrating their resilience also reinforces the idea that they are capable of handling other big changes in the future. Read more detailed tips about resilience activities: The Top 7 Building Resilience Activities for Children While Traveling

How to Celebrate:

Share a special family dinner or outing reflecting on how hard you’ve worked as a family to navigate the moving process.
Create “bravery badges” or certificates for their accomplishments.
Reflect on the new friendships and skills they’ve gained.

11. Introduce the New Neighborhood Early

If possible, introduce your children to the new neighborhood before the move. Familiarity helps reduce anxiety and builds excitement. Seeing the new environment ahead of time can make it feel less intimidating and more like an adventure waiting to happen.

Tips:

Use Google Maps or YouTube to explore the area virtually. This helped immensely when we moved overseas to the Congo. We had no clue what to expect so it was helpful to have a visual before we arrived for both children and adults.
Point out fun spots nearby, like parks or ice cream shops.
Share stories from your childhood moves to make the experience relatable.

12. Let Kids Pack Their Own Bag

Give kids control over packing their own “essentials” bag which can help them feel prepared and more secure. Choosing their favorite items also gives them a comforting sense of control during a time of significant change.

Suggestions:

Let them pack a “treasure box” with their favorite items for easy access. Be open minded about what things they take, what might seem insignificant to you could be special to them. For instance, I wasn’t thrilled about my child packing his 1000+ pokemon cards in his checked luggage (they’re heavy!) but it turned out to a great quiet activity for when wemoved into our new space.
Add a notebook or drawing pad for creative expression during travel.

A giant pile of boxes and items is taped off. Moving with young children is always a bit messy. — Moving chaos! We have moved 3 times in the last 3 years and have gotten more skilled at packing.

13. Create a Visual Countdown Calendar

Help kids mentally prepare for the move with a countdown calendar. Visualizing the timeline can make the process feel more structured and less overwhelming.

Ideas:

Add stickers or drawings for each day.
Include small treats or notes in a “countdown jar.”
Plan a special family activity for the final day before moving.

14. Incorporate Fun Breaks During Moving Tasks

Moving is exhausting for everyone, but incorporating fun breaks can lighten the mood. These moments of joy can transform the experience into something your kids will remember fondly.

Ideas for Breaks:

Play quick games like hide-and-seek among the boxes.
Have a dance party with your child’s favorite music.
Enjoy a picnic-style snack break on the floor of your empty home.

15. Make a “First Week Adventure List”

Collaborate with your children to create a list of fun activities to try in your first week in the new house. This gives them something exciting to anticipate and helps them transition to their new surroundings with a sense of adventure.

Ideas:

Find the best pizza or ice cream spot in your new town.
Explore a local museum, zoo, or nature trail.
Plan a cozy family movie

The Emotional Benefits of an Inclusive Move

Involving children in the moving process does more than just make them feel included; it also teaches important life skills like adaptability, communication, and resilience. Moving is an opportunity for growth, both for parents and children.

Moving With Young Children: Final Reflections

While moving with children can be challenging, it’s also a unique opportunity to strengthen family bonds and teach valuable lessons about change. By involving your kids, maintaining routines, and exploring together, you can turn a potentially stressful event into a meaningful family adventure. For more tips, check out our Top 5 Tips to Support Children Through Transitions & Travel

What’s your biggest concern about moving with kids? Share your experiences in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!