When you're planning a family move, it's helpful to create a time line that the whole family can participate in, right from the beginning. Children should be able to see themselves as part of the picture, which includes getting them involved in the moving process and making sure details are not missed.
How to Create a Time Line with Children
- Hold a family meeting. If you have younger children, then sit down with them during a calm moment in the day and talk to them about the move and what it might mean for them. If your children are a little older, then having them involved from the beginning will help them feel part of the move and the decision-making process. A family meeting is a great time to start sketching out a time line. Do it together.
- Make a list of tasks. Have everyone think about all the things that have to get done over the next few weeks or months, with each family member making a list of the tasks they see as important, either to them or to the entire family. Many children will think of things such as packing their room, their last day of school and saying goodbye to friends. While these items might not seem as practical as other moving tasks, make sure their placed into the time line so that children know, that what's important to them, won't be missed or passed over.
- Discuss how tasks will get done. Once you have decided what each family member needs and which tasks are a priority, start talking about who will do what tasks, what time is needed for each one, and start placing important dates into the calendar, such as booking the movers, farewell play dates and packing schedule.
- Keep the calendar posted. Have the calendar/time line posted in a central area so everyone can check it. The last time we moved, we also included a "Don't Forget to" notice board on the fridge door so, if someone remembered a task that needed to get done but it had been left off the schedule, the task was listed on the board then added to the time line later. There will always be things that you forget about, so keeping a place where notes can be jotted down is helpful.
- Make the family meetings fun. This is key. While moving is stressful and everyone will be experiencing different kinds of stresses and anxieties, it's important to make the planning phase of the move fun. Order in takeout, play some games and just try to relax while still getting some stuff done. This is also a good time to try to talk about how everyone is feeling about the move and to offer each other some moral support.
- Try not to be too regimental. While it's important to get things done and to try to stay on schedule, remember that, not matter how hard you plan, there will always be problems to solve along the way. Try to breathe and to keep calm and to let kids know that things are going to be okay and that you'll get through this move together. And you will.
