How soon do I tell my 2.5yr old that we're moving out of state? A month before, week??? Don't want him to be asking about it daily, I know their time frame is off, but also don't want to spring it on him, want him to adjust to the idea before the move...
We have moved 5 times in 5 years and have a 4 year old. We don't really ever "tell" our children, we just discuss it over dinner... you know, I am scheduling the van so we can move" topics between mom and dad and then shewould ask questions about it later.
I would let him know a few days before you start packing. He is going to see things going in boxes and wondering what's happening, so he'll feel more secure if he understands why you're packing everything up. My son is also 2.5 (May 2007) and we moved in July 2009 and again last week. I let him know a few weeks in advance so he could get used to the idea. If possible, take a trip out to the new house so he has a sense of where you're going, what his room will look like, etc. Otherwise, try to show him pictures as much as possible. Keep reminding him that all his toys and all of your other things will come on the move with you. My son walked through the house today saying "wow, the tv is here, the CHAIRS are here!, my truck is here!!" and so on.
K.
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well my son is 3 and i have been "pumping" him up about moving for a week or so, and we're moving in a little over a month lol. i just tell him, not today, but in a little while. and he helps me "pick out" houses while we're driving lol. it's a little different because we're not moving far away from friends and family, but i'm trying to get him used to the idea and that it's nothing to worry about, tell him how much fun it will be, how he's going to have a brand-new room to play in, and how we're going to put aaaalllll our things in boxes (name them off, toys, books, clothes, etc) and take them to the new house. i'm mostly worried about sleeping in the new room. he definitely needs a heads up. but other than that it just depends on your child, and i'm not sure there's a way to know how best to do it until you've been through it. maybe someone on here will give us both some better advice!
I guess my thoughts are if he sees you packing or you are talking about it in front of him, i would tell him,If not wait until the week before Nothing major or indepth, ( Just tell him how excited you are, we are going to get a new house, but that it will be a lot of work (if you are packing yourself) or else explain the process to him, a "moving company" will load up mommy's dishes and our beds and toys and put them in a big truck and bring them to our new house and then we get to unpack them and put them in our new rooms.
That's really all he needs to know.
You could make a paper chain to count down, or mark the day on a calendar or something.
I don't think you need to play up missing or visiting the old neighborhood or saying goodbye kids that age are soooo adaptable,
As long as he knows you are happy and taking care of him that's all he cares about. If he picks up that you are stressed or worried then he will be too.
My 4 and 5 year old moved this summer 20 mins to the other side of town so it wasn't too big a deal, but they both did totally fine.
Good luck and i hope everything works out.
