Show them pictures of the new house, maybe a video. Show them pictures of the new school and play ground. Maybe a park in the area. Do some research about places they can go and things they can do there and be ready to discuss those things with them when they ask questions.

Now. They’re likely to overhear at least some conversation about such a big change, and you don’t want a well-meaning relative or school official to say something before you do.

Anonymous wrote:You're way over thinking this. Stop treating your kids like they're fragile.

We've made a few moves due to DH's job. We told them as soon as we knew that it was 100% happening.

+1

You're way over thinking this. Stop treating your kids like they're fragile.

We've made a few moves due to DH's job. We told them as soon as we knew that it was 100% happening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At that age I would wait until summer starts. You don’t want them thinking about it unnecessarily and there’s nothing they can do. They also don’t really have a concept of months or distances. Tell them in June for an August move.

The six year old should have the opportunity to say goodbye to school friends that he won’t see again., so definitely before the end of the school year.

I’m the. 2nd PP. I just want to add that you shouldn’t underestimate your child’s attachment to their current friends. My DD still cried at times in first grade about a friend she missed from preschool. If she hadn’t known that she would be changing schools and had the opportunity to say goodbye, she would have felt pretty betrayed by us.

I’d tell them right away before they hear it from others and also wonder why the house is for sale.

Tell them when you’re ready to tell other people. If the kids know first, they will definitely spill the beans. And if someone else accidentally lets it slip to your kids, you will lose your 6-year-old’s trust. FWIW, this will most likely be much harder on your older one. The 3 year old probably can’t distinguish between moving across the country and moving to a neighboring town.

Anonymous wrote:At that age I would wait until summer starts. You don’t want them thinking about it unnecessarily and there’s nothing they can do. They also don’t really have a concept of months or distances. Tell them in June for an August move.

The six year old should have the opportunity to say goodbye to school friends that he won’t see again., so definitely before the end of the school year.

I would probably tell the 6 yo a month before the end of school. My 3.5 couldn’t care less.

At that age I would wait until summer starts. You don’t want them thinking about it unnecessarily and there’s nothing they can do. They also don’t really have a concept of months or distances. Tell them in June for an August move.

Tell them now.

I’d wait until about a month out. We did a cross country move when the kids were going into K and 3rd grade and we told them as soon as we knew. It was short notice, so maybe 6-8 weeks. My kids seemed to build more anxiety with each passing day, even though we knew their new school and the location. If I could do it over again, I’d minimize the lead time. Of course you have to tell them when the serious packing starts, but no reason to tell them too soon. A month is an eternity for a little kid.

Once you have answers about where you'll live, what school, what's nearby. 6 will want to know how it effects them.

As soon as possible.

Kids are 6 and 3.5. We will be moving at the end of summer before school starts. We will be moving to a new state.