August 12th, 2010 5 ways to calm the unsettledness of moving with children Posted by Melitsa in Articles, Education, pretend play, Roundups, Seasonal play, Thought of the week

Traveling unsettles children. They are out of their routines and everything is just different. We can’t always bend enough for their needs and that inflexibility leads to conflict.
We’ve just had one of these periods of traveling. Things are not as we expected, which is fine and normal. How would we really know how things would be? We’re adjusting and reformulating plans. Hence my absence from Twitter, Blogging and Podcasting. Trying to get back on track for next week.
One day at a time……….

This is a post I had started for July .

Here are a few toys and ideas to keep them encouraged and positive about the future.
1. World puzzle

Showing them different places in the world.
2. Balls

3.

Only One You
4.pretend play

5. spinny critters

The boys have taken a keener interest in maps now that their dad is round the other side of the world. So we look at different map types every chance we get. Who can find dad the quickest etc?

Balls are a great way to burn off energy.

I need to talk about Only you another time. But it helps when you feel like another fish in a big pond and you know noone.

Kids act out and play through new situations. What better way than through a pretend play set from the region.

Laughing helps …………..we couldn’t have survived this move or traveling without having lots of opportunities for laughter. While the makers of spinny critters probably wanted matching parts. I know this was a super ice breaker and mood lifter when you showed a mixed up animal. “Horse-o-lion”. OK we loved the jokes

These are some of the things we have done recently. What do you do to prepare your child for long distance travel or moving? Would love to hear.

Melitsa Avila is a former teacher, mother of three boys and military wife who talks about living an intentional play lifestyle using practical and everyday play activities to do with the under 5s. She publishes related ebooks & newsletters. Melitsa is the host and producer of a weekly Early Childhood radio show: Raising Playful Tots bringing parents and carers together with Early childhood practitioners. Thanks for reading!

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