How to Help a Child Cope With Moving Home

Moving home can be exciting for adults. For a young child it can mean losing a bedroom, friends and routines they know well. These simple steps can help your child feel safe through the change.

Tell them early, in simple words

Explain what is happening and why, in words your child understands. Say where you are going and roughly when. Tell them what will stay the same, such as family, favourite toys and bedtime stories.

Expect the same questions again and again. Answer them calmly each time.

Give them a sense of control

• Let your child choose what goes in a special box that travels with you.
• Take photos of the old home and plan a goodbye with friends.
• If you can, visit the new area before the move.
• Let your child help set up their new room.

Keep routines steady

Meals, bedtimes and story time help a child feel safe. Keep them as normal as you can on moving day and in the first weeks in the new home.

Make space for feelings

A child may feel excited, sad, cross or all three in one day. Tell them that every one of these feelings is okay.

Some children show worry through behaviour rather than words. You might see clinginess, tears or trouble sleeping.

Use a story to start the conversation

A story gives a child a safe way to talk about feelings without feeling put on the spot. Why Are We Moving Home? is a magical audio story for children aged 5 to 10. Listen together before the move, and again once you have settled in.

When to ask for more help

If your child’s worries last for weeks or get in the way of daily life, speak to your GP, health visitor or your child’s school. Our Support page lists helpful organisations.

From the Coping with Growing series: modern fairy tales for life’s big moments.