Moving can prove to be an extremely exciting ? and stressful ? time for both you and your family. How you prepare for this move, whether it's across town or across the country, will likely play a large role in how well you and your family deal with the transition and all the changes that come along with it.



New jobs, new schools, new surroundings and new friends will all become an issue at some point for most people, so planning ahead and making the transition a smoother one will benefit everyone in the family and will hopefully make the move a positive one in your lives.

The following list of suggestions will help you prepare for a move, as well as the changes that go along with it:

? Prepare your children ahead of time by keeping the lines of communication open and involving them when it comes to decision making. Keeping your children abreast of the situation and being upfront and honest about the move and the changes it will bring will better prepare your children and will allow them to feel more in control of the situation.

? You may want to bring your children to your new home several times, if possible, and allow them to voice their questions, concerns or suggestions. Touring your new neighborhood with your children may also help, as this often calms the fear of the unknown.

? Frequently ask for your children's input when making decisions and use this time to make family decisions regarding your new home. Although you may certainly not agree with all of your children's suggestions, they will feel appreciated knowing that they have a voice in the situation.

? For younger children, you can begin talking with them about their new home on a frequent basis to better prepare them for the move. You may also want to count down the days on the calendar until the move, or make your own countdown and involve the children by allowing them to mark each day.

? For yourself and your spouse, you can make the move less stressful by planning ahead. That may include reserving a moving company or a moving van ahead of time for the move, packing boxes of things that you don't use on a regular basis, and clearing out the clutter that you can sell, donate or toss.

Now is a great time to have a garage sale! Clearing out excess clutter before a move will lessen the stress of packing and moving, and will make the process a much easier one!

Use this opportunity to once again involve the children by asking them to donate their old toys and clothes.

Organizing and packing boxes of off-season clothing and items, holiday decorations and rarely used items, such as china and crystal, will allow you to remain ahead of the game when it comes to packing.

You can also prepare for your move by coordinating your old and new utilities. Finally, consider scheduling turn on/shut off dates ahead of time to save yourself a considerable amount of stress.