Preparing 3.5 year old for house and region move.

[minouminou]

Got a cash buyer for our flat and we're off up north....home for me - kind of adopted home for DP, terra incognita for DS.
Mentioned it a few times to DS, who'll be 3.5 in April.
He seems to think that his life will carry on as normal, but just in a different home - that his friends will be there, his nursery and his beloved keyworker, etc etc
I'm sure it's been done a few times on here, but both DP and I are upset by the upheaval he'll go through - he's an uber-sociable little dude, and loves his friends here, and all the people we meet every day....shops, gym, pool etc etc
Just want to make this as painless as poss for him.
Have a DD, too, who'll be 1 in April as well.
Many thanks in advance, guys.
Sob........

Have you got a new school/nusery for him yet? Maybe worth him spending a day/half day there before you physically move. I did this with DD, she was 4 at the time. Seemed to help her and she loved meeting her new classmates.

You also say it's home for you, do you have family there that he knows? That will surely help.

Other than that, just go with the flow, he'll pick up on you both being mega stressed/anxious about it all. Make it an adventure! My DD still sees her friends in the school hols. She stays with my mum and arranges for them to come over to her house.

I hope all goes well for you and if your little chap is uber-sociable, he'll slot right in and probably surprise you at just how ok he is with it all!!!!