Are you like Riley from the movie Inside Out and had to move to a different house and make new friends? Riley had to leave her friends, school, house and her hockey team too. Riley felt many different emotions about having to move. There were times that she felt angry, disgust, joy, fear and sadness. In the end, Riley learned that it was normal to feel all of these emotions when there are big changes being made. She also learned how to make a new life in a whole new state a really happy one. If you’re moving to a new state or town, let’s see if these suggestions can help you!
For the Kids:
1 – Poke a hole in a small box and pack your very favorite toy in it to take with you on your ride or flight to your new home. You could have your favorite stuffed animal’s head popping out the top of the box for easy access so you can play with it. You can even add games like tic tac toe on the side of the box to play if you get bored.
2 – Draw a map of where you want to put your furniture and toys in your new room.
3 -Take new pictures with your friends and the activities that you are involved in and make a collage to hang up in your new room.
4 -Talk with your mom or dad about what sport or activity you would like to do and ask him/her to find out where he/she can sign you up before you even get there. This will give you something to look forward to.
5 – Share your thoughts and fears with your mom or dad. They maybe feeling the same way!
For Parents:
1 – Encourage your child to speak to you about his/her concerns, needs and wants. Even if their perception of the move is totally different than yours just listen and validate his/her feelings so they feel understood.
2 – As a family, make an outline of the first couple of days so the your child has some predictability.
3 – Offer a list of tasks (or even better if your child makes his/her own suggestions) for your child to choose from to complete when you arrive at the new home. This will give your child a sense of purpose and feel part of the family unit.
4 – Facilitate closure for your child. Saying “I’ll see you soon” or “Good-bye” is hard to do, but your child may have some last minute things he/she wants to share with his/her friends.
Focus on what makes you feel good and talk about your fears and concerns. Your mom or dad might be feeling the same exact way as you! You may be surprised and make some very special core memories just like Riley!
Lisa Navarra M.A. in Special Education offers Workshops, Professional Development and Groups for parents and educators focusing on equipping participants with the tools necessary to manage challenging behaviors and learning in the school and home environments. With over 20 years of experience Lisa is the Founder/President of Child Behavior Consulting, LLC. For more insider tips and information, log onto www.childbehaviorconsulting.com or contact Lisa at Lisa@ChildBehaviorConsulting.com, FB Child Behavior Consulting. Lisa can also be seen on Verizon Fios Push Pause LI Parenting: Setting Limits.
