Moving with children definitely deserves some careful planning. Here are some great resources I want to share with you. If you have additional thoughts or resources please leave them in a comment at the bottom of this post!
Introducing and processing the move together:
Understanding Children, a publication from Iowa State University
Preparing your Child for a Move, Kid’s Health, Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Shroff Pendley
Moving is Tough for Kids, by Dr. Nancy Darling
Children and Family Moves published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
PBS Supersisters offer six tips
Education:
A few good tips from 123 movers
Military Families:
Long Car Trips Between Homes
Tips from Tsh Oxenreider-Who believes a passport is one of the world’s greatest textbooks
Brilliant Ideas From Parents All Over the Country, #3 is My Personal Fave.
Helpful Write-up by a Collection of Authors– I especially appreciated their links
Insights from The Mother of All Trips
In addition to these resources my family found a few other ideas to be helpful.
1. While you pack, if there is someone you trust who loves your children, set up childcare. I found three hours per morning for two weeks before the take-off date allowed me to do a lot of packing and running errands without the girls. We still had enough time together the rest of the day to keep a pretty normal schedule.
2. Can’t bring the pets? Be honest about saying goodbye to pets and allowing them to grieve the loss of that companionship. If you think it would help, take them to visit the pet’s new home before moving.
3. Pray for your children! Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” Matthew 19:14. He cares about the desires of their hearts as much as he cares about ours. I’m praying that we’ll have a cherry tree, and chickens in our next home for my oldest daughter. Right now we’re renting so it’s not an option!