Pack It Up

Before you move, your house will probably be full of chaos and boxes. You might want to ask your parent if you can pack a special box of your favorite stuff — stuff you'll want to have as soon as you get there. This can include personal items, such as stuffed animals, photos, and other stuff that will make you feel at home. It's also a wise idea to include stuff you'll need the first night, such as sheets for your bed, a pillow, pajamas, toothbrush, and other must-haves. Ask that this box be marked with your name on it, so you can grab it when it comes off the moving truck.

Once you've taken care of your most precious stuff, ask if you can help with other moving tasks. Your parents will just love you for it! There's so much to do when a family moves.

Preparing for Goodbye

It's sad to say goodbye to friends, family, and neighbors. You can make it less sad if you grab an address book (or just a plain notebook) ahead of time and have everyone write down his or her address, phone number, and email address. You also can get a big blank book and ask your friends to fill it with messages.

If you have a camera or video camera, take lots of pictures or videos of your friends, your favorite places, and your neighborhood. You can even put together a scrapbook or shoebox full of things that remind you of your hometown and all your friends.

Moving Day

When moving day finally comes, it's OK to feel sad. Many people cry when they leave to move somewhere new. Don't be surprised if grown-ups cry a little, too. But what do you do when you get there? The grown-ups will probably be pretty busy trying to unpack and set up the new household.

When you get to your new house, unpack your special box of favorite stuff. That will help you feel more at home. You can even hang up pictures of your friends and favorite places to remind you of them. Once again, if you offer to help with the unpacking, your mom or dad will be glad for the help.