Free Download: How to Talk to Your Kids About Moving

Few things are more disruptive than moving to a new home — especially for kids.

They like routines. In fact, young children often need advance notice just to end a playdate or take a nap. Imagine, then, what it might feel like for them to learn they’ll soon be moving to a strange new place.

If you’re like many parents about to undertake a move, concern about your child’s response to the move may be just as stressful as your growing to-do list.

A recent Zillow survey of movers showed that nearly 1 in 3 parents with children under 18 say dealing with their child’s stress and/or anxiety related to the move was among the hardest things about moving. And 29% of parents with young children say concern about causing stress for their child was one of the emotional factors that initially held them back from moving.

To help manage the transition and the anxiety that often accompanies it, Zillow has written a new children’s book that can help parents introduce the concept of moving to their children in a way that could make the transition easier.

The free book, titled “The Girl Who Didn’t Want To Move,” chronicles a move by a fictional young girl, her parents and her favorite stuffed animals. Intended for parents to read to their children, it covers important aspects of moving such as staying connected to old friends, making new ones and seeing the move as a new adventure.

Download book

The book also includes a discussion guide authored by Dr. Reena B. Patel, LEP BCBA, Parenting, Education, and Behavior Expert.

“It is not uncommon that your child will need some time to process the information, work through their emotions about it and ask questions as the process moves along,’’ Patel said.

Every child will process things differently, and the circumstances of the move also can play a factor in how quickly they adapt.

“Parents shouldn’t feel the need to resolve every worry their child has, even if they could,’’ Patel said. “Oftentimes, the most supportive strategy is to actively listen, validate their emotions and empathize as you move through the process as a family.”

Patel also advises parents to involve their children in moving-related activities, which can give children a sense of control that can help reduce their moving-related anxieties.

Zillow also has tools that can help make it easier for you, too. 

Explore our comprehensive guide to moving with kids — packing tips included

Although the book is available free to download as a pdf, you can also pay $1.99 for an e-book that lives in Amazon’s Kindle app library. All profits from purchases of the e-book will be donated to Covenant House, a non-profit group that provides housing and support services to young people facing homelessness. Zillow will make a matching donation to Covenant House for each book download, up to $25,000. 

And don’t forget to check out all of our resources on moving, including this guide to coping with stress.