How to Help a Child With Moving House (and a Moving Book Starring Them)

Once Upon Me · 2026-10-19

Short answer: tell your child early and concretely that their toys, bed and family are all coming too. Let them pack their own box, keep one comfort item out of the boxes, say goodbye to the old house room by room, and set up their bedroom first in the new place. Keep bedtime routines exactly the same. A moving story with your child as the hero helps them rehearse every step.

From “Moves to a New Home”: the long drive, with Bunny.

What young children worry about

Adults worry about logistics. Small children worry about simpler things that matter more to them. Will my toys come? Will my bed come? Will we still be together? Do I have to leave my room behind forever? Answer those questions directly, and more than once.

Before the move

Explain it in their terms. “We're going to live in a new house. Your bed, your toys and all of us are coming too.”
Show them the new place if you can: photos, a drive past, or a video walkthrough of their new room.
Give them their own box. Let them pack (and decorate) a box of their things. It turns packing into something they're part of.
Keep one comfort item out. The favourite toy rides in the car, not the truck.
Say goodbye. A walk through the empty rooms (“goodbye, window seat”) gives a sense of ending, which helps. It's fine if it's a little sad.

After the move

Set up their room first. A familiar bed, the same blanket and their books on the shelf make the new house feel like theirs fastest.
Keep routines identical. Same bath, same stories, same bedtime. New houses make new noises, and a night-light or hall light helps.
Meet one neighbour or child early on. One friendly face makes a new street feel like home.
Expect a wobble. Some sleep disruption or clinginess for a few weeks is normal.

A moving book starring your child

Our ready-made story “Ava Moves to a New Home” (we'll call the hero Ava here; your book uses your child's name) walks through all of this. Ava isn't sure how to feel, then packs their own box and keeps Bunny out of it. They say goodbye to every room and watch the moving truck, then take the long drive and find the echoey new house. They choose where the bed goes, meet a new friend next door, and get through the first night with new sounds. The refrain is: Home is wherever we are together.

On Once Upon Me, choose Mode 3 → Big life moments, type your child's name, and pick girl or boy. The story is ready in under a minute, and the first pages preview free. Your child's name and pronouns appear throughout the 13 illustrated spreads. The book also has a dedication page, a “Meet {name}” page that can hold a photo of your child, a Certificate of Adventure, and a maze and colouring page at the back. It costs $9.99 for the PDF (emailed in minutes), $34.99 for a softcover or $49.99 for a hardcover, printed and shipped in 5–7 business days with the PDF included.

One honest note: the illustrations in the ready-made stories are pre-painted, so the child on the page is a friendly storybook character with your child's name, not a portrait of them. If you want the hero drawn to match your child's hair and features, or you want real details such as the baby's actual name, the school's name or the family dog, use Keyword Magic instead. Enter the details as keywords (for example “new baby brother named Theo, our dog Biscuit”) and a one-of-a-kind story is written and illustrated from scratch for the same price.

Moving to a new country, or want the real new town or the family dog in the story? Use Keyword Magic with those details.

Frequently asked

How do I tell my toddler we are moving?

Keep it short and concrete: “We're going to live in a new house, and your bed, your toys and all of us are coming too.” Repeat it often, show photos of the new place if you can, and read a moving story together.

How far ahead should I tell a young child about a move?

For toddlers and preschoolers, a few weeks ahead is usually enough. Long lead times mean little to them. Start once packing begins, so the boxes match the story.

How can I help my child sleep in a new house?

Set up their room first, with the same bed, blanket and comfort toy. Keep the bedtime routine identical, and use a night-light or leave the hall light on, because new houses make new sounds.

Is there a personalized book about moving house?

Yes. Once Upon Me's “Moves to a New Home” story uses your child's name throughout a 36-page illustrated book. PDF $9.99 (instant), softcover $34.99, hardcover $49.99.

Is a moving book a good gift for a friend's family?

Yes. A personalized moving story is a thoughtful gift for a family with young children who are relocating, and the PDF can be emailed the same day.

Once Upon Me (onceuponmebooks.com) makes personalized, fully illustrated 36-page storybooks for children aged 1–9, including ready-made “big life moment” stories for a new baby, the first day of school, moving house, potty training and a first dentist visit. PDF $9.99, softcover $34.99, hardcover $49.99 (PDF always included). Preview free.

Make the new house feel like home

A moving story with your child as the hero. Preview it free in under a minute.

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