Congrats. You got the promotion, Mr. New Company Vice President. The new job will bring financial rewards, but it also means you’ll have to pull up stakes and move hundreds of miles away. During the days when you were single without children, hiring long-distance movers to make the cross-country move would be a snap. Now, you need to properly prepare your entire family for the pending office relocation.

Children face challenges

Kids can prove resilient during a change. But they also want reassurance when moving out of state with an interstate moving company such as Jackson’s Relocation Services. The manner in which you prepare children for this big event also depends on their ages. Effective approaches differ for preschoolers, school-age children and adolescents. Generally, the older the child, the more likely he’ll perceive an interstate move as a difficult event. (Note: This information is intended for families moving for positive reasons on an infrequent basis. More disruptive events—e.g., divorce or families coping with poverty—or the constant uprooting experienced by military families, might impact children differently or more profoundly.) Children rely on the stability that routine and familiarity provide. The more you can provide during this non-routine and strange time, the better. Keeping kids informed and involving them in the moving process will help them feel a sense of investment vs. having something imposed on them. The biggest battle probably will be conquering the unknowns surrounding out-of-state moving.

Early notice

Perhaps the single best thing is to let kids know about a move as early as possible. Don’t spring the idea on them at the 11th hour. The short notice won’t spare them anxiety. The more time they have to think about the concept, the more empowered they’ll be to prepare for the upcoming cross-country move mentally. New school? New friends? New room? Kids will have lots of questions. Those queries should be encouraged. Let your children know it’s OK to express themselves. Don’t be caught off-guard if they display signs of anger, sadness or fear. Be accepting of various reactions. Reassure young children the whole family will remain together. (Small children sometimes think parents will leave them behind during an interstate move.) Talk regularly about the cross-country move so children treat it as a concrete event that will occur, not an abstract or hypothetical event.

Pictures of home

Visualizing can prove an essential tool in easing children’s anxiety. If possible, obtain photos of the new school, home and town, so kids form a picture in their minds of what life will be like after the cross-country move. Clinical psychologist Laura Markham, Ph.D., recommends creating for young children a “moving book.” This features captions glued to move-related photo printouts, then laminated, three-hole punched and placed in a notebook. This chronicle might start with a family’s current home, then discuss the reason for moving out of state (Dad took a new job) and finish up with anticipated fun activities near the family’s new home. The editor of Ahaparenting.com, Dr. Markham advises reading the “moving book” to children early on in the moving process. Again, the overall idea is to ease into the new move, not make an abrupt change.

Kids first

Involving kids in the actual packing process also will prove helpful. If you’re packing your items instead of leaving that work to your interstate movers, inform your children that toys or dolls being placed in that cardboard box are being sent to your new home. Encourage them to write their names on boxes and even decorate them. These activities keep the little ones busy. Plus, children will feel good knowing their boxes will stand out and quickly be found once you’ve moved into your new home. Request your moving company place the children’s items last on the moving truck. This ensures they’re unloaded first at your destination. Setting up the children’s rooms right away creates a safe haven while you’re busy unpacking and placing items throughout the rest of your home. Clearing the clutter before a cross-country move certainly can be advantageous. Sometimes, though, kids will react negatively to giving up items. Tread lightly here. Don’t force the issue. Keeping a child’s familiar possessions, such as bedroom furniture, might help them settle into their new home. Once the child feels secure, then updating with a new bed and dresser would be OK.

Stay connected

The “friendship factor” can prove a tough one for teens. Explain to your adolescent that you also will be working to stay close with family and friends across the miles. Discuss when a return trip might be possible. Today’s technology permits teens to use online tools, such as Skype, to stay connected to lifelong friends. This contact might ease the separation blues. Teens and younger children should be permitted the opportunity to tell friends and family members “goodbye” in a calm, unhurried setting. That’s another reason why planning a move ahead of time is a good idea. Office relocation-related moves don’t always land on neat-and-tidy dates, such as the start or end of a school year. Prom or concert schedules might conflict with the interstate move with Jacksons Relocation. If an event is purely social, it might have to be lost to the cause. However, should a move coincide with a high-school student’s important exam, ACT or SAT, a solution might be to permit the teen to stay behind with a relative until after such a significant event. Jackson’s Relocation Services is the interstate moving company in Sedalia, Missouri who’ll go the distance for you. Contact us to learn how our status as not only one of the top moving companies in Missouri, but also one of the premier national moving companies, can make your life easier. Whether you’re seeking an interstate moving company or local movers in Sedalia, contact our moving and relocation services team now for a FREE moving quote at (660) 826-6898 or (800) 452-6683.