Moving With Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family's Transition to a New Home

by Lori Collins Burgan

25 ways to ease a family's transition to a new home.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for help moving older children and/or moving your kids to an entirely new community, this book would probably be quite useful. As it is, I have a four-year-old and we're moving nearby, so many of the things in this book did not apply. Rather than worries about a new school (she's staying at her same preschool) I'm struggling to work through her fears about leaving the only home she's known ("but I'll miss our bathtubs and potties!"). It did have some good suggestions that I'll be using though, like setting her room up first, so it's worth a look even if some things in there don't suit your situation.

[Nicole Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this simple, clearly written book about helping your kids transition before, during and after a big move. It is thorough but easy to read, with plenty of anecdotes and personal experiences of the author mixed in nicely. It is probably more helpful for people with older children, not as helpful for toddlers, but the general principles still apply and I have been able to put a lot of her advice to good use. Much of this book actually has helped ME with the emotional stress of moving, and I am very grateful for that.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m disappointed. The list isn’t bad, but it’s pretty obvious. “trite” might be too harsh—I see the author struggling to be honest but also encouraging. Mostly aimed at older children rather than toddlers/babies.

[Virginia, Second of Her Name, Mother of Bunnies · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars just for this quote: "If the resource you need isn't there, take a leadership role in creating it." 😍 That is my JAM!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a mother who moved five times in seven years so she knows what she's talking about. While my children aren't in school yet and attached to best friends yet it still had plenty of good info for me.

I think I gained more for myself from this book. Here are a few quotes that helped improve my attitude about moving:

"...I know in my heart that my family could move anywhere and eventually everthing would work out okay for us. I know that the kids would make new friends, do well in school, and get to know our neighbors, and that we soon would feel the new community was our home. These things have happened with every move. No matter how apprehenive you feel about moving, you'll hlep your children by maintaining the conviction that you will make the best of your family's new situation.

I believe that we are exactly where we need to be at any given moment. There is a reason that circumstances have led us to each place where we have lived. Each person we have met, each experience we have had, has changed our lives in ways that could not have happened if we hadn't been willing to move."

"The ancient advice of Confucius stands true today: 'Whereever you go, go with all your heart.'"

"Being part of a family who loves you is what's most important."

"Don't be afraid to send out your own welcome wagon."

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, helpful book with very practical ideas for helping kids (and their parents!) transition between moves, whether you move once in your life or very often.

Out of the 25 chapters, these struck me the most:

7. Don't be afraid to throw your own goodbye party. (So I am and I think it will help a lot with closure for us and for our friends.)

11. Make the move an adventure. Search the Internet for local events, customs, and festivals (I would do this anyway). Let the kids guess answers to to questions about their new city or state. Take a walk through your new neighborhood and see who can be the first to strike up a conversation with a neighbor.

16. Even if you know this is a short-term move, approach it as if it's not.

24. Use storytelling to celebrate your family history. (And I use our blog this way, too--I don't keep tons of photos albums so occasionally we just browse back through bits of our family blog to show the kids their history and talk about it with them.)

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a week before we moved and although the ideas in it were for older children than my toddler it was still helpful to think about many of the suggestions and I did enact with positive results some of the tips. The book was written in a vignette sort of style and was enjoyable but I wished that at the beginning or end of each chapter it had a bulleted checklist or something of that particular tip. Sometimes after a day of packing, cleaning, tying up loose ends I just wanted a bulleted list. But one of the only books out there on this subject so very much appreciated!

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I read this book following the first move in a two part repatriation move, I found good insight and suggestions, as well as reminders to me, the mom, about how vital my attitude is to shaping the kids' response to the stress of moving. I would recommend this book; it's a quick read and had good examples.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be even better if my children were a little bit older. However, even though my boys were young I was able to get some great tips out of the book. It had some good lists to help me know how to get everything done before we move.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best suited to families with school aged children, I still found some helpful information for easing the transition for my two year old. I'm keeping it around since we are renting and still have at least one more move in our future.

[Melissa Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful

We will soon be making a long distance move and there are some great tips in this book which I plan to try.