Moving House? Drawing Helps Kids With Big Changes

Drawing helps children cope with moving house because it lets them say goodbye to the old home, picture the new one and express worries in a safe way. Drawing maps, memory pages and "my new room" plans gives kids a sense of control during a big change.

Moving is one of the bigger changes a child can go through. New room, new streets, maybe a new school and new friends. Even kids who are excited can feel unsettled. Drawing gives them a way to work through it.

Before the move

• Goodbye drawings. Draw favorite spots in the old home: the tree outside, the kitchen table, the bedroom window.
• Memory book. Collect drawings of the old house, friends and neighbors.
• Questions picture. Draw a big question mark and fill it with things they wonder about the new place.

During the move

• Car or plane drawing. Draw what they see on the journey.
• Box art. Let them decorate their own moving boxes.
• Packing list in pictures. Draw the toys that must come first.

After the move

• Plan my room. Draw where the bed, desk and toys will go.
• New neighborhood map. Explore and draw a map of the new area.
• Then and now. Draw the old room and the new room side by side.

A mixed bag of drawings for a new start

A new home is a great time to start a new drawing book. How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 is a mixed bag of dinosaurs, people, animals and more, so there is always something new to try. Drawing familiar favorites in a new place helps kids feel at home.

Let feelings be mixed

Kids may feel excited, sad and nervous all at once. Drawing lets all of those feelings exist together. Ask, "What are you looking forward to? What will you miss?" and let the drawings answer too.

Making new friends

Drawing can also help in a new school or neighborhood. Kids who draw often find that sharing drawings is an easy way to connect. Read more in drawing helps shy kids make friends.

More in feelings and calm, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.