Prepping 5 Year Old for a Near-future Move

Just moved with a 5 yr old and 1 yr old. You will be amazed how easy they adjust. I was! Don't overthink it!

Don't overthink it. He is 5. And if you talk to him TOO soon, it was just create anxiety about something that isn't happening yet. I would wait until you start putting your house on the market, or packing boxes or whatever to even bring it up. Then be matter of fact.
We're going to move to ____. You'll go to ___ school. But we'll still shop at ____ and go to the park at ______ and we'll have all our same stuff, just in a different house. Your bed and all your toys and stuffed animals and clothes and EVERYTHING will be there, cause we're taking it with us. Then give him space to think about it. To ask questions about it, etc. Let him lead on how much he wants to know and how much it bothers him. It might not bother him that much.
We moved when our oldest was 7 and youngest was 4. They were sad because they liked our house, but SO excited about the changes... We let them pick out the colors for their new bedroom walls. :)

We moved last year (in the middle of the school year) to a different town when my girls were 5 and 8. What surprised me was that when we told my little one that we would be moving, she thought that meant that she would have to find somewhere to live (as in, she thought we were moving without her!). Apparently this is a common misconception. Even after she understood that she would be moving with us, she was concerned that she would have to leave her toys behind. Once she understood that she would be with us AND have all of her familiar "things" with her, she was fine. Even switching schools in the middle of the school year (which REALLY concerned me), she did fine. I think the important thing is that you don't make a huge big deal out of it. Just let him know, "Hey, we're going to be moving to a new (bigger, has a pool, whatever he will find interesting) house after you're done with school this year! You and me and Daddy will all go and live in the new house together, and we will bring all of our things. You can even pick what color your room will be! Won't that be fun?" Answer any questions he has, but as long as you don't treat it like an earth-shattering event, he won't either. I wouldn't necessarily start months in advance, either. That will just confuse him. When you're in escrow on the house, then tell him. Best of luck with your move!

When my son as in speech therapy we were moving. He was only 4 though. His therapist had 2 dollhouse and they acted out moving. They had the people put all their things into a truck and take them to the new house. It was a good visual to help him understand. It got a little humorous too b/c one of the dollhouses didn't have a bathroom. He wanted to know why that family would move to a house that didn't have one. :-)

Good luck with your move! I'm sure you will get lots of great ideas from all the wonderful Mamas on here!

you're right, don't over think it. make it a positive thing and expect that he might be a little discombobulated once it happens. just lay the groundwork, as you say. don't harp on it. he will be a lot of help and feel like a big boy :)

*catherine, i had the same thing happen. my son was about 3 when we talked about moving and he said very matter-of-factly, "well will you take all my toys with you?" lol. or something to that extent. what cracked me up is he was so calm about it. we quickly eased his mind on that score ;)

we moved when my son was 3 & it went very well. We visited the new neighborhood, town, & looked at all of the fun things around our new home. Our son was quite familiar with the parks & the library before we even moved!

On the day of the move, we had a goody bag packed for him & his cousin who was spending the weekend with us. It worked out great!