Every parent worries about how to give children news that might upset them. Telling your child that you’re moving house is telling them that their whole life is going to change. It’s hard, and there will probably be tears. However, sometimes it’s something that you need to do, and you need to tell them. Here’s how you can break the news as gently as you can.
Give Them The Details
You need to tell your kids why you’re moving, when you’re moving, and then give them three clear reasons why they should be excited about the big move. For example, your conversation with them could go a bit like this, “Children, we have something important that we need to talk to you about. We’re going to be moving to Dallas because Daddy got an amazing new job there. We will be moving sometime in April. This move is going to be really exciting for all of us, because we’ll be living much closer to Grandma now, our new backyard is really big with a big tree so you can have a treehouse, and we’ll be living near a lovely big park for you to play in.”
Use whatever things will make your child feel happiest about the move. It should be something tangible that they can understand easily, like seeing a family member more often, or being closer to something they like to do. Think of something unique to the new place.
Keep It Simple And Ask For Questions
You don’t need to give your child every detail about the new house, new city, or even the whole process of moving. Keep it short and sweet when you break the news. They might be overwhelmed by the news, and need time to process it before you start telling them they need to pack or that Allied Van Lines Canada is coming to help you move. Give them the basics and ask if they have any questions. This will help you to focus the conversation on what matters to them. Answer any questions they have honestly and as best you can.
Explain How They Will Keep In Touch With Friends
Your child is likely to be most worried about leaving their friends behind. Be prepared to answer questions about this. Explain to your child that friends left behind don’t have to be lost. If you have friends in other cities, use them as examples of friendships that have remained intact over long distances. Give your child ways that they can keep in touch. You could arrange a weekly virtual playdate. Let your child and their friends start texting or emailing each other, or playing games online together, so they can keep this going after the move too. Tell them that they could be pen pals. If they will be able to see each other in the near future, tell them when this will happen. Just don’t make promises that you can’t keep, like that they will see their friends every weekend.
