Moving with Children: An Age-by-Age Guide

Moving with children: preparing a smooth transition

A move is ranked among the most stressful life events, just behind bereavement and divorce. For children, the experience can be even more unsettling: they are leaving their familiar surroundings, their friends, sometimes their school — without having chosen the decision.

Yet with good preparation and an age-appropriate approach, a move can also become a positive adventure and a moment of growth. See our moving checklist to organise every step. This guide takes you from announcing the move to settling into the new home.

The psychological impact of moving on children

What the research tells us

Developmental psychology studies show that children react differently to a move depending on their age, temperament and family context. The most common reactions are:

• Anxiety and fear of the unknown: fear of losing friends, of not making new ones
• Sadness and a sense of loss: mourning the home, the neighbourhood, the bedroom
• Behavioural regression: reverting to younger behaviours (bedwetting, crying, increased need for attention)
• Anger and opposition: feeling powerless in the face of a decision imposed on them
• Sleep and appetite disturbances: physical manifestations of stress
• Excitement and curiosity: some children experience the move positively, especially if the parents are enthusiastic

Factors that ease the adjustment

• Family stability: if the family structure remains unchanged, adjustment is easier
• Open communication: explaining the reasons for the move and listening to the child’s emotions
• Maintaining routines: keeping the same rituals (meals, bedtime, activities) reassures the child
• Involving the child: giving them an active role in the process strengthens their sense of control
• Parents’ attitude: children mirror their parents’ emotions

Babies and toddlers (0-3 years)

Understanding their experience

Babies and toddlers do not understand the concept of moving, but they are extremely sensitive to their sensory environment and to their parents’ emotional state. They pick up on:

• Parental stress (change of tone, reduced availability)
• Changes to the environment (boxes, disorder, new smells)
• Disrupted routines (altered meal and nap times)

Practical tips

• Maintain sleep and feeding routines as much as possible
• Keep familiar objects within reach (comfort toy, dummy, favourite toys) — do not pack them
• Prepare a “baby survival bag” for moving day: nappies, bottles, meals, change of clothes, medication, toys
• Have the baby looked after during the move if possible (grandparents, friends, babysitter). Entrust the logistics to a residential moving service so you can focus on your child
• Set up the baby’s room first in the new home to recreate a familiar reference point quickly
• Keep the same sheets (unwashed) so the familiar smell provides reassurance
• Stay calm: your serenity is the best protection for your baby

Signs of stress to watch for

• Excessive, inconsolable crying
• Sleep disturbances (night waking, refusal to sleep)
• Loss of appetite
• Unusual irritability
• Increased need for physical contact

Preschool children (3-6 years)

Understanding their experience

At this age, children begin to understand the concept of moving but struggle to anticipate and manage their emotions. Their thinking is still concrete: they may fear that their toys will disappear or that their friends will forget them.

How to announce the move

• Tell them 2 to 4 weeks in advance (not too early, to avoid prolonged anxiety)
• Use simple words: “We’re going to live in a new house. Your toys and your room will come with us.”
• Read books about moving (available at libraries and bookshops)
• Show photos or videos of the new home and neighbourhood
• Visit the new property together if possible, exploring the surroundings (park, playground)

Practical tips

• Involve the child in preparations: let them choose their bedroom colour, the layout
• Let them pack their toys (the ones they choose themselves), turning it into a game
• Create a special box with their favourite items that they carry themselves
• Organise a “goodbye party” with their nursery or neighbourhood friends
• Plan activities for moving day: colouring, tablet, games — if possible, entrust them to a trusted person
• Explore the new neighbourhood together in the first days (playground, bakery, library)

Changing nursery/daycare

If you are changing municipality, a nursery change is often necessary. Don’t forget the address change formalities with the municipality:

• Enrol the child at the new nursery as early as possible (waiting lists can be long in Switzerland)
• Request a report from the current nursery to ease the transition
• Allow for an overlap period if possible
• Nursery fees vary by municipality (subsidised according to income): from 30 to 150 CHF per day depending on the canton and family income

School-age children (6-12 years)

Understanding their experience

Children of this age are often the most affected by a move. They have developed strong friendships and a social identity at school and in their neighbourhood. Leaving this environment can feel like a real loss.

How to announce the move

• Tell them 1 to 2 months in advance to allow time to prepare
• Explain the reasons honestly and simply
• Validate their emotions: “I understand you’re sad about leaving your friends. That’s completely normal.”
• Reassure about maintaining friendships: “You’ll be able to stay in touch with your friends and invite them over”
• Involve the child in decisions: choosing the bedroom, the decoration, visiting the neighbourhood

Practical tips

• Organise exchanging contact details with friends (phone numbers, addresses)
• Plan a visit to the new school before the move if possible
• Enrol the child in an extracurricular activity as soon as you arrive (sport, music, scouts) to build new connections
• Maintain contact with old friends (video calls, invitations during holidays)
• Let the child decorate their new room to their taste
• Be patient: adjustment can take 3 to 6 months

To make sure moving day goes smoothly and you can focus on your children, request a free quote for your move.

Changing schools in Switzerland

As the Swiss school system is cantonal, an intercantonal move can involve significant differences.

General procedure

1. Inform the head of the current school as soon as the date is known
2. Request a school report and a teacher’s assessment
3. Contact the school secretary of the new municipality
4. Enrol the child with the necessary documents: school report, proof of residence, vaccination record
5. Class placement is decided by the school management based on age and level

Differences between cantons

Special case: changing language region

A move between language regions is particularly sensitive:

• The child will have to follow lessons in a new language
• Language support classes are generally available (DaZ in German-speaking Switzerland, FLS in Romandie)
• Allow for an adjustment period of 6 to 12 months
• Consider a bilingual private school during the transition if your budget allows
• International school is an option in major cities (Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Lausanne)

Teenagers (12-18 years)

Understanding their experience

Teenagers often experience a move as a social catastrophe. At this age, the peer group is central to their identity. A move means:

• Loss of a social network built over years
• Disruption of first romantic relationships
• School change at an academically sensitive moment
• Loss of independence in the new neighbourhood (landmarks to rebuild)
• Sense of injustice: a parental decision endured without any say

How to approach the subject

• Involve them early in the decision-making process
• Listen without minimising: “I understand this is hard” is more effective than “You’ll get over it”
• Negotiate compromises: bigger room, decoration of their choice, decoration budget
• Guarantee continued contact: mobile data to stay in touch, organised visits
• Acknowledge their maturity: ask their opinion on practical matters

Practical tips

• School timing: if possible, plan the move during school holidays
• Let them say goodbye: organise an evening or outing with their friends
• Encourage social activities quickly: sport, music, volunteering, courses
• Respect their space: the bedroom is their territory — let them organise it
• Be patient: the first months can be tough
• Watch for warning signs: prolonged isolation, falling school results, behavioural problems

Changing schools at secondary level

• Gymnasium/lycee: contact the education department of the new canton; admission may require an exam
• Apprenticeship: the contract can be transferred if the company has a site in the new region; otherwise, a new employer must be found
• Maturite: programmes are harmonised at the federal level, making intercantonal transfers easier

Activities for moving day

On the big day, children should be occupied and safe, away from the commotion and hazards.

For ages 3-6

• Activity kit in a backpack: colouring, stickers, modelling clay
• Tablet loaded with films or games (charged to 100%)
• Special “my new home” colouring book
• Picnic in the new garden or nearby park

For ages 6-12

• Give them a mission: photograph each room of the new home, draw the floor plan
• Let them unpack and arrange their own room
• Board games, books, music
• Explore the new neighbourhood by bike or on foot

For teenagers

• Let them manage their room from start to finish
• Give them responsibilities (organise the kitchen, assemble furniture)
• Grant them free time to explore the neighbourhood alone
• Set up a video call with their friends in the evening

When to consult a professional

If your child shows persistent signs of distress after the move, do not hesitate to seek help:

• Prolonged regression (more than 4 weeks)
• Marked social isolation after 2-3 months
• Significant drop in school results
• Persistent sleep or eating problems
• Unusual anxiety, deep sadness or aggression
• Refusal to go to school

In Switzerland, you can consult:

• The paediatrician as a first step
• The municipal school psychology service (free)
• A child/adolescent psychologist (partially reimbursed by KVG since 2022, on medical prescription)
• The cantonal child protection service for complex situations

Frequently asked questions