My 3 year old is VERY set in her ways to the point that she's either really really anal or borderline ocd. She's all about routine and structure and gets very grumpy when I change up things like her nightlight or put a toy in a spot that it doesn't go. She's very bright and funny and loves to read, so I thought that with our up-coming move to a new house, a good book about moving would really help her. She was born here and so I'm really worried about how she'll handle the move. I know she'd be fine eventually, but I want to ease her into the process as smoothely as possible. Anything you suggest?
I know this is a relatively old post but my kids have this wonderful book called A Kiss Goodbye. It is about a raccoon called Chester who has to move to the other side of the forest. He really doesn't want to leave his tree. It is very touching and shows how once he gets there he makes a new friend. My kids love this book, they are 8 and 5 and have had the book for a few years. The author is called Audrey Penn.
Yeah for your post!! Your 3 yr old sound exactly like my 5 yr old - we must be related somehow! Anyway, we are about to go through the same thing so it was really helpful to see some of the suggestions for making it easier on the kids. And I never thought of a moving book - great idea, I will be using it . . . Thank you for your post and good luck. I hope all goes well for your family.
I am not sure of a book but we recently moved (my son is almost 3). We moved from the house he was born in to a new house. You know what? The first morning he tried to say he wanted to go home and tried putting the cats in their carriers telling them he was taking them home but after that he never mentioned it. Even driving by the old house that week elicited nothing from him. I reccomend going over to the new house a few times and letting her explore. Keep her away during moving day. Its dangerous and can be confusing. Expect the first night to be confusing. My son didn't want to come in the first night saying he wanted to go home. But he did and went to bed. None of us slept well but like I said, the next day (after trying to take the cats home) he was fine. Believe me, most kids will be just fine!
Hi,
I've been in your situation (too many times). When my girls were little I did have a book. I tried to find it to get the name for you, but sorry I can't find it. Try looking on amazon. I just did and searched "moving day" and several children's books came up. One thing I was told to do by somebody who moved with small children was to take them around the house on the last day and say goodbye to the rooms. I did that, but I have to be honest it was emotional for me more than them. I am not one for change and neither is my oldest daughter. It is really tough but you will move through it. Your daughter is still young and she will create memories of her new home and, unfortunately, forget the old. My youngest was 3 1/2 when we moved and she is now 8 1/2 and she has a few memories, but not many of our old house.
Good luck with your move!
There are so many.
ONe of our favorites was Moving Day, I cant even remember the author, it was published by Scholastic.
There is Sad Day, Glad Day, it's an older one but a good one. Published first in maybe the 50's or 60's.
Call your local library. I wanted books on flying for my 3 year old prior to a trip from TX to PA and they went and looked them up for me AND put them in the hold area so all I had to do was walk in and pick it up. It was great.
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15 years ago we moved and the two pieces of advice I still remember from reading how-to books was communicate/show them where you are going and pack their room last. It is the uncertainty that un-nerves anyone who is totally dependent.
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our kids favorite book was Alexander who is absolutley not moving by judith voirst. but here is a list of some others
http://moving.about.com/od/movingwithchildren/a/children_...
I second the poster who says pack their room last. and then unpack it first. so that they can settle right into their room. if possible arrange their furniture the same way and maybe use same curtains etc.
