Moving

Danielle - posted on 02/18/2010

Try laying his bedroom out as similar to the old room as possible ie furniture in relation to the bed windows etc try an decorate it exactly the same as the old one too this may comfort him and give him a safe place in the house good luck

Teresa - posted on 02/15/2010

My suggestion is putting together a social story book to help with the move. We have had to move twice in 2 years due to my job. It has not been easy especially the first moving from Minn. to Michigan,(he told a man at McDonalds in Wisconsin that he didn't know where he was or where he was going, this was at about 2:00 A.m.) imagine that talking I had to do to convince this man I was not kidnapping ny own son LOL. Anyhow, the books and reinteriating to him every hour what was going on made his anxiety alot less lower. I had also had lots of pictures taken of our new home so that he would be more comfortable with our new home. He did though refer to going home as in Minnesota. So good luck to you and your child, God Bless.

Simone - posted on 02/14/2010

when i moved houses with my son i let him stay with his nan where he is extremly comfortable and had most of the house unpacked mainly his room although i was up all night it helped alot

Michelle - posted on 02/14/2010

Also, be prepared to keep reiterating that you live in a new place now. I used all the suggestions above and still, about 3 months in, she asked when we were moving back to "old house."
Don't be frustrated when he does, just calmly reiterate the change and it will fade in time.

Veronica - posted on 02/13/2010

Hello my name is Veronica I work with special Ed children in a public school. My advise is that when you move go immediatly to the school district of the school your child will be attending and talk to the special ed department and they will guide you to many avenues.

Melissa - posted on 02/13/2010

We moved cross country a little over a year ago and having something familiar really helped. We made sure all of his comfort items (special stuffed animal, blanket, etc) went into the car with us. We also just talked a lot about it and let him help when he wanted to. He was almost 3 at the time.

Tammy - posted on 02/13/2010

We moved schools (not house) last year and what our psych suggested was lots of visiting before the move. Even with only a week or two notice it is worth trying to go for a drive to your new home and find the shops and talk about it lot and walk around in the new street etc. It all makes a difference.

Christine - posted on 02/12/2010

Try and give as much information about his new surroundings before you move and focus on some positives for him about the new place.
Any time you can get his input about how things can be more comfortable for him also helps him to feel in control and takes the focus off the move.
That is how we approach any and all changes with our son.

Joanne - posted on 02/11/2010

Thanks 4 all your help guys, i am putting into place the suggestions. He has only just been diagnosed so its all new to me at the mo.

Rachel - posted on 02/11/2010

Hi Joanne,My son is 10 and has autism eventhough he is older he still found the transition difficult when we moved house.I took him in the car and showed him the new place and then took pictures and showed him normally visual pictures are the best way to explain things.

Amy - posted on 02/10/2010

Make a SOCIAL STORY about the new place/surroundings. If you can get into the place to take pictures that will help give him a visual with your verbal/story.

Candice - posted on 02/09/2010

I agree. See if there is something special he can do to help out. We moved recently. it has been really good for my girls. I got my 4 year old potty trained and my 7 year old is in a better school now. But its not unual for them to ask about the old house. I get it alot from my 4 year old. my seven year old was excited about moving so she doesnt even mention it much.

I hope you guys do well. And i'd like to hear how it goes for you.

Sheila - posted on 02/09/2010

When we moved, I asked my son what kind of bedroom he would like. He said Spongebob. (eeks!) So, I took him shopping for Spongebob border, and then he helped me paint his room. That was a leap of faith!



Anyways, he still wanted to go "home" for the first six months, and he still mentions home every now and again. It was hard leaving because we had THE BEST neighbours...I still miss our home! I would love to have our old neighbours back, but we needed to move to keep my son in the proper school district for the school we wanted.



Good luck,



Sheila