How to relieve moving anxiety in a 9 year old?

Question

thank GOD we sold our house lol with this market? it was tough.

we will be moving in about 3 months, but just to another town about 30 mins. away from where we live now.

My 9 year old son is extremely upset about the move and is expressing a lot of anxiety about it. I guess you could say he's a "well-established" 4th grader, and is understandably upset about leaving his friends and the house he grew up in.

but a kid doesn't understand parents motives of alleviating te high tax burden... we've tried explaining to him that he'll stay in contact with his old friends and see them once in a while. It's our first time moving in a while and I would REALLY appreciate advice from other parents who have gone throgh this!

Answer 1

30 minutes is not far.

I would start by driving out past the new home. Check out the local restaurants..stop in and have a bite to eat.

Ask the new school for a tour for him.

Contact the local YMCA, boy scouts or sports teams (or whatever he is into: art, karate, soccer, theater, guitar lessons) and sign him up. Make the sacrifice to drive him there for the next 3 months.

He can start making friends that live out there NOW while still living at home and seeing his old friends.

He will also see that his old home is just a couple of "Fairly Odd Parents" away and not feel the anxiety.

Have him start learning his new address and get him an address book from the Dollar Store and let him start collecting his friends addys.

Set up an email address for him and make up business cards for him with his first name and his email addy on them to give to the friends he is leaving behind and the ones he will soon meet. (Make sure YOU monitor the emails of course)

If you are planning on moving in 3 months (between Thanksgiving and Christmas?) why not plan a sledding party somewhere in between the two homes for January with his old and new friends?

He will be fine, Mom. If this is the worse thing he ever has to face in his life then he is a lucky boy!

Answer 2

I can relate to him, in a way. He needs to know itll be okay. If you can, take him to where youre moving and try to get play dates before you move there. If you cant, try to call other parents there and have your son talk to their children and start a friendship. Once he feels secure that hes going to have a similar life where youre moving, h**l feel better.

Answer 3

Tell your son that he will make new friends in his new home.  Since you are only moving 30 minutes away, set up times that your son can meet with his old friends, so that they can stay in touch.

Moving is hard, and your son probably won't be fully accepting of the move until after it has happened.  He has a right to be upset, and this is normal behavior in a child.  Just remember that you can do everything to comfort him, but he will still be upset.  You aren't do anything wrong.

Answer 4

How about taking him on a visit to the new neighborhood before you move in.  Let him see where you will be living,  Maybe find things around town that would be of interest to him.  You might even want to contact his new school and see if he can take a tour and maybe meet his teacher, see the cafeteria etc.