If you are moving locally, take your children to visit their new neighborhood at least once, but preferably several times. Visit their new schools. Young children may enjoy it if you make an appointment to have a tour of their new school. Older children usually prefer to just drive past the school to have a quick look. If your children are young or like playing sports, spend a few hours one afternoon on a weekend at the local park in your new neighborhood. If they are older or not sports-minded, go visit the new shopping areas, coffee shops, diners, or other places where kids their age might congregate.



If you are moving too far away to be able to visit the new neighborhood with your children at least once, find some websites with information and pictures about your new neighborhood. Many schools have websites with a lot of information on special school events throughout the year. Some school websites have pictures of the school or teachers so that your kids can visualize their school a bit better. Be sure to also do a web search to see if the town you're moving to has a community message board or forum where you can begin to make some friends and become part of the community before you arrive.

When moving to a neighborhood close by, it's quite easy to set up a few times throughout the first few months for your children to get together with a few of their friends from their old neighborhood. Your children should have a few of their friends come to their new neighborhood as well as visiting the old neighborhood. Knowing that they can see their old friends every once in a while will help the transition as they make new friends. As the weeks go by, their interests will usually transition naturally toward the friends in their new neighborhood.

Moving a long distance away from old friends can be especially difficult for kids. Care should be taken to allow them to spend plenty of time with their friends before you move. Having a final get-together for their friends in your home or at your neighborhood park can help your children, as well as their friends, say goodbye. Make sure you take plenty of pictures. Write down all of the mailing addresses and email addresses for their friends as well as for the parents so you can let the kids all keep in touch as long they want to.

No matter whether you're moving across town or across the country, there are so many modern ways for your children to stay in touch with their friends from their old neighborhood that we often forget that the transition can still be quite difficult. Above all, the most important way that you can help your kids during this time is to acknowledge their feelings and encourage them to talk to you about their worries and concerns. This open discussion among parents and children will help the whole family as you all begin your new lives in your new home.