A
s well as being wonderfully
exciting, moving can be a
stressful and anxious time
for everyone involved – the
parents and children who are moving;
and the parents and children who are
staying. It is important that you don’t
forget to take care of your emotional
well-being; an essential part of the
process that needs focus in order for
internal readiness.
Understanding the process and
making it meaningful
During the transitional stage a move
represents, children can feel insecure
and lots of emotions can surface as
a result, such as fear, blame, anger,
grief, excitement, sadness, joy and loss.
As parents, we can help our children
come to terms with the change and
handle some of the emotions by
creating a memory box or reading a
therapeutic story to your child – you
can do this for both the child leaving
and the child staying.
One of the most important factors
in the moving process is doing it
together! When a parent and child
can share positive meaningful
relationships and experiences together,
they can strengthen their bond and
increase the feeling of safety and
security.
It is important to give your child
the opportunity for closure in order
for them to be able to move forward
and to become more settled in their
new environment. This closure can
be accomplished by doing something
meaningful together. Two of the most
effective and helpful activities that
help children prepare for a move
are creating a memory or treasure
box and reading a personalised,
therapeutic story.
What is a memory box?
A memory box is a special box where
your child can keep special visual
items inside that are meaningful
because they remind him of events,
places or people. The visual items in
the memory box can help your child
remember those moments or places at
any time. These visual items can help
your child stay connected and can
help your child to move on.
Giving your child the opportunity
for closure is a positive step in helping
them move on. It helps your child to
let go, and embrace new things in a
Nicola Guy
, Certified Play Therapist, CIMI
and Certified MISP Instructor at Acorn Family
Wellness Center, suggests two of the very best
ways to help children prepare for a big move.
Mind
OVER
moving
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