Relocating can be difficult on the whole family, especially when it involves moving with kids. Leaving behind the comforts of home, friends, and a familiar school can be extremely disruptive to a child’s life, and when moving long distance these affects can run even deeper. According to an article in Psychology Today, when moving with kids they can easily take on the parent’s stress related to the difficulties of moving.

Fortunately, that means that there is a lot you can do to make moving with kids easier:

1. Before You Begin Moving With Kids

When you first break the news of your big move to your children, be sure to be clear about the reason behind it. If you are moving for work, tell them that it is a great opportunity, and that it’s important that the family stays together. Many movers know that you can help your children get excited for their new home by looking at maps of your new location together, sharing photographs, and telling them about fun aspects of the area like parks or nature. Answer any questions your children have, and be sure when moving with kids that the stress of the move doesn’t distract from the attention you give them.

2. During the Move

On moving day, you’ll have a lot to think about. Everything you own and hold dear will need to be packed up and safely delivered to your new home. You can cut back on your own stress by seeking help from moving companies that take care of everything for you. Seek out a long distance moving company to help you create a plan for your move and get everything safely from A to B so you can focus on keeping your family excited and happy on moving day. Moving with kids is never easy and thankfully there are professionals that understand what it takes to help make your move stress free.

3. After the Move

Maybe your lifestyle has you moving around the country often. Maybe you expect your new home to be yours for years to come. In any case, it’s important that you don’t sit on the sidelines of your new community. Moving with kids means getting involved in local organizations and help them make new friends quickly and take them out to explore their new home. It’s also important that you do everything you can to help your kids stay in touch with old friends. Trusted friendships can sometimes be casualties of moving, but the Internet makes it easy for your kids to continue talking and even playing their favorite games with classmates and friends.

Above all else, keep in mind that your children are taking their emotional cues from you. How you handle the stress of the move is how your children will handle it, so they need you to keep a level head and focus on what matters most: your family.